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Community Support in Action: Treasures 4 Teachers’ Role in Arizona’s Education Landscape

July 2, 2024 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Community Support in Action: Treasures 4 Teachers' Role in Arizona's Education Landscape

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Community Support in Action: Treasures 4 Teachers’ Role in Arizona’s Education Landscape

In a recent Phoenix Business RadioX episode, Karen Nowicki hosted Treasures 4 Teachers, celebrating their 20-year legacy in Tempe, Arizona. Kami Galvani, Joy Klein, and Christopher Cordes discussed the organization’s pivotal role in alleviating financial burdens on teachers amid Arizona’s education funding challenges, stressing the community’s crucial role in sustaining their mission.

These efforts underscore Treasures 4 Teachers’ ongoing dedication to enhancing educational environments despite funding constraints, showcasing their community-driven impact and enduring commitment to supporting educators and students alike.

Treasures 4 Teachers has been an educational resource hub in Tempe, Arizona, since 2003. Our mission is to provide educational supplies to teachers and students from the community’s reusable resources.

Through a resources store in Tempe and West Phoenix, along with our mobile program T4T on Wheels, we serve 8000 teachers and 250,000 students yearly.

Joy Klein is delighted to become the Executive Director of Treasures 4 Teachers. Not only is this career opportunity a great fit with Joy’s skills and experience, but it also continues Joy’s desire to serve in positions where she can have a positive impact on others.

Joy is an Ohio native and completed her undergraduate work at Cleveland State University in Political Science and minor in Women’s Studies. While at Cleveland State, Joy was involved in student government, campus activities and was appointed the student representative to the Cleveland State Board of Trustees for two years. In 1998, Joy began her studies at Arizona State University and received a Master of Public Administration in 2001.

Joy’s professional career has included working for Arizona State University, Kent State University, and private postsecondary colleges. In addition, Joy was the Scholarship Administrator for the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation where she directed the scholarship program for the ten-campus community college district. In addition, Joy served as the Senior Director of Education and Scholarships for the Arizona Community Foundation.

In this role, Joy was responsible for the educational grant-making and scholarship program, including partnerships with nonprofits, corporations, and donors throughout the state. Most recently, Joy served as the Executive Director of Friends of the Children – Phoenix, establishing the chapter in Phoenix from the ground up to support paid professional mentors for youth in the Roosevelt School District.

Her volunteer work has included the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, Hospice of the Valley and becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate. These professional and personal engagements have provided Joy with many opportunities to be of service to others through compassionate listening, care, and support.

Joy has been married to her wonderful husband, Chris, for 26 years and is the proud mother to Kale and Bayley. She is tender to numerous creatures big and small including lizards, tortoises, parakeets, cats and dogs.

Connect with Joy on LinkedIn.

Christopher Cordes feels privileged to connect our passionate supporters to the educational impacts their giving makes possible. He has led fundraising and development strategy for many years.

Prior to joining Treasures 4 Teachers he drove development efforts at Valley of the Sun United Way, Banner Health Foundation, and Pat Tillman Foundation. The son of two teachers and a long line of educators, he knows the critical importance of elevating these professionals.

Cordes enjoys spending time with his wife Colleen, their twin boys, and their daughter. A native and fifth-generation Arizonan, he enjoys tennis, golf, fly fishing, and exploring the outdoors. He is a two-time graduate of Arizona State University, most recently earning a Master of Nonprofit Leadership & Management (MNLM) degree. Go, Devils!

Kami Galvani graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Political Science and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Arizona College of Law where she was an editor on the Arizona Law Review. She recently obtained a Professional Certificate in Sustainability Strategy and Studies from the Arizona State University School of Sustainability and WP Carey School of Business.

In addition to her role at T4T, Kami also worked with the Phoenix Green Business Leader program to certify her employees as Green Business Leaders. She spent over a decade as the chair of her firm’s Community Services Committee and was responsible for coordinating service projects, fundraising activities, and collections of in-kind donations for local and national charities.

She currently serves on the Site Council and the Board of the Association of Parents and Teachers at Cherokee Elementary School and is the Staff Hospitality Chair of the APT at Cocopah Middle School.

Originally from Salt Lake City, Kami enjoys spending time in the mountains and outdoors. She enjoys long-distance running, live music, creating art, gardening, and spending time with her husband, daughter, twin sons, and pets.

Follow Treasures 4 Teachers on Facebook, X and Instagram.

Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

October 23, 2023 by Karen

Arizona Good Business

Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

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Lloyd Hopkins with Million Dollar Teacher Project E37

Local First AZ is back with another epsiode of Arizona Good Business with nonprofit leader and Executive Director of Million Dollar Teacher Project, Lloyd Hopkins. Thomas and Lloyd discuss their passion and care for teachers, why businesses who care about the well-being of our teachers, and how to get more deeply involved so we can build a better Arizona.

Million Dollar Teacher Project is also bringing back the TAP Program for businesses to treat teachers “like a million dollars” this Fall. This episode is for businesses who have a care for education, and making sure we’re prioritizing the well-being of teachers in Arizona.

Million Dollar Teacher Project is a nonprofit focus on teacher retention and recruitment across the valley. We partner with Title I schools that serve marginalized communities on creating community centered programming geared towards helping them increase how their teachers are recognized, drive more support directly into classrooms and creating innovative ways to impact how their teachers are compensated.

Lloyd Hopkins is an author, philanthropist and organizational leader with extensive experience in community and nonprofit work. He has worked in and around education for 18 years.

He graduated from Arizona State University with his degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership and took his passion for ensuring quality education for all to launch the teacher recruitment and retention program, Million Dollar Teacher Project.

As a philanthropist he has been a member of Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy (R.E.A.P), which is a fund under the Arizona Community Foundation, that supports programs making positive impacts on African-American Youth, for 6 years and the Chairman for 2. He has also led taskforces with Achieve60AZ and the Department of Education on improving attainment for the African American community in Arizona.

For his efforts he was recently a finalist for the Phoenix Center of the Arts Mayor’s Arts Awards for his Million Dollar Teacher Tree program, was honored by the East Valley NAACP with the Malala Yousafzai Equity in Education Award and received the “Living the Dream” award by the 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee. He is also an alum of Valley Leadership’s Class 40.

In 2023 he was recognized as one of Phoenix’s Most Admired Leaders by the Phoenix Business Journal and nominated to the Governor of Arizona’s Educator Retention Taskforce.

Follow Million Dollar Teacher Project on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Arizona Good Business

What is good business? What are local businesses doing to build a better Arizona?

Join Arizona Good Business to hear from local companies who are:

Centering purpose at the forefront of business
Creating social well-being for the community
Prioritizing sustainability and positive environmental practices
Growing strong company cultures through building authentic teams
Ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion are involved in all business decisions

Arizona Good Business features local business leaders that are redefining what it means to do good business.

About Your Host

Thomas Barr is the Executive Director for Local First Arizona, the largest coalition of local businesses in North America. He advocates for a strong local business community that contributes to building vibrancy, equity, and prosperity across the state. A proud Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, Thomas leads the business coalition of Local First Arizona by advocating for the economic and cultural benefits provided by building strong local economies.

Thomas steers the strategic direction of LFA’s major programs and initiatives as well as the engagement of over 3000 businesses across Arizona. As Executive Director, Thomas guides a team of statewide senior directors overseeing the execution of LFA’s communication strategy, major initiatives and key partnerships, as well as the collaboration of over 30 staff implementing work in entrepreneurship programs, small business advocacy, local food initiatives, sustainability, urban development and community building. He frequently speaks to groups locally and nationally, presenting the impact of Local First Arizona and the importance of local economy work in building prosperity.

Outside of Local First Arizona, Thomas has participated in volunteering his time to many causes and organizations throughout the Valley including Young Nonprofit Professionals – Phoenix, Equality Arizona, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Heritage Square Foundation and Phoenix Legal Action Network. Additionally, Thomas is a 2018 Phoenix Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree, alumni of Arizona Leading for Change, and current participant in Valley Leadership Institute’s 40th cohort.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Preface Project 4th Annual Childhood Literacy Benefit Gala

September 13, 2023 by Amanda Pearch

Forsyth Business Radio

Preface Project 4th Annual Childhood Literacy Benefit Gala

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Preface Project 4th Annual Childhood Literacy Benefit Gala

Founder and Executive Director, JT Wu & Heather Phillips, Director of Educational Development

Preface is a national 501(c)(3) philanthropic initiative that empowers communities to combat early childhood illiteracy and secure foundational educational opportunities for the next generation!

Their model works by first pairing a local high school and local elementary school together as Preface Partners. Their expert teams then work with the high school administration to select and train student leaders (“Preface Ambassadors”) in clinically-endorsed educational best practices, including finger-led reading, dialogic responses, voice inflections, and dyadic scaffolding.

Preface Ambassadors culturally and linguistically reflect the communities they serve, allowing them to maximize engagement capacity with young students most in need of educational assistance and mentorship.

Ambassadors work directly into the elementary school classrooms to act as free supplemental resources for local educators on the ground, allowing for highly personal engagement and reading assistance in small group classroom settings!

Preface’s relational model has helped elementary school students make gains in literacy skills nearly twice as fast as their peers, while high schoolers gain firsthand service experience and a newfound appreciation for careers in education.

Additionally, Preface has been recognized by the GA Dept. of Education as an innovative World Languages program and is advised by experts affiliated with a wide variety of institutions, including the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, McKinsey & Company, J.P. Morgan Chase, Microsoft, and Princeton University.

Broadcasted LIVE from the Forsyth Business RadioX Studio

To learn more about Purpose Driven Podcasts- Connect with Amanda Pearch

A Fulton County Schools Update, with Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney

November 15, 2022 by John Ray

All Things Fulton County Schools with Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney

North Fulton Studio

A Fulton County Schools Update, with Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney

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A Fulton County Schools Update, with Superintendent Dr. Mike Looney (GNFCC 400 Insider, Episode 81)

Fulton County Schools Superintendent, Dr. Mike Looney joined host Kali Boatright to discuss school safety, redistricting changes, retaining and recruiting teachers, changes to the school board, preparing students for the future, and much more.

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Fulton County Schools

Fulton County Schools is the fourth largest school system in Georgia with nearly 11,000 full- and part-time employees, and nearly 7,000 teachers and other certified personnel spread out throughout the county. These incredible individuals support nearly 90,000 students this year who are attending classes in 59 elementary schools, 19 middle schools, 19 high schools, 10 start-up charter organizations, and 1 full-time virtual school.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

Dr. Mike Looney, Superintendent, Fulton County Schools

Dr. Mike Looney has served as the Superintendent for the Fulton County School District (FCS) in Georgia since June 2019. In the middle of his first year on the job, he became the first school leader in the state to be faced with reacting to the unknown – a confirmed, positive case of COVID-19. He immediately jumped into action, calling upon his 28 years as an educator, 15 years of previous experience as a school superintendent in Tennessee and Alabama, as a retired marine, father and community leader to guide the district through two years of COVID-19 protocols and safety measures, all while maintaining a focus on the mission of educating students.

Despite the pandemic, his goals remained consistent. He continued with a focused set of key priorities including dropout prevention, literacy for all, CTAE expansion, STEAM programs, middle school reform, leadership development, and solid financial management. He also led the development of the Bridge to Success plan, the district’s three-year comprehensive strategy and transformational investment to help students recover from learning loss resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure student achievement, growth and success.

As the superintendent of the AAA-rated school district, Looney is passionate about ensuring academic excellence and paving the way to post-graduate success for the district’s more than 89,000 students who attend 108 schools. He is deeply committed to the school board’s mission to educate every student to be a responsible, productive citizen.

Beginning his educational career as a substitute teacher, while working on an MBA, Looney rose to becoming an award-winning national speaker on education, including being named Tennessee Superintendent of the Year in 2015. Dr. Looney received his Educational Specialist degree and Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama and his bachelor’s degree in Business Management and master’s degree in Education from Jacksonville State University in Alabama.

Looney currently serves as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Board, Board of Directors for the Development Authority of Fulton County, Board of Directors of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, and a member at North Point Community Church.

Looney is the proud father of four adult children, grandfather of two, and husband to Jennifer Looney. A successful business owner and professional skydiver, he recently added becoming a trained Wing Walker to his list of accomplishments.

About GNFCC and The GNFCC 400 Insider

**Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC**

The GNFCC 400 Insider is presented by the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce (GNFCC) and is hosted by Kali Boatright, President and CEO of GNFCC. The Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit, member-driven organization comprised of over 1400 business enterprises, civic organizations, educational institutions, and individuals. Their service area includes Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Roswell and Sandy Springs. GNFCC is the leading voice on economic development, business growth and quality of life issues in North Fulton County.

The GNFCC promotes the interests of our members by assuming a leadership role in making North Fulton an excellent place to work, live, play and stay. They provide one voice for all local businesses to influence decision-makers, recommend legislation, and protect the valuable resources that make North Fulton a popular place to live.

For more information on GNFCC and its North Fulton County service area, follow this link or call (770) 993-8806. For more information on other GNFCC events such as this North Fulton Mayors Appreciation Lunch, follow this link.

For the complete show archive of GNFCC 400 Insider, go to GNFCC400Insider.com. The GNFCC 400 Insider is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX®.

Building the Pipeline of STEM Talent for Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs E29

August 29, 2022 by Karen

Building-the-Pipeline-of-STEM-Talent-for-Tomorrows-Workforce-Needs-E2Building-the-Pipeline-of-STEM-Talent-for-Tomorrows-Workforce-Needs-feature

AZ TechCast

Building the Pipeline of STEM Talent for Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs E29

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Building the Pipeline of STEM Talent for Tomorrow’s Workforce Needs E29

It’s no secret that Arizona is an attractive place for technology companies to call home. But with more technology companies being founded locally and relocating to Arizona from out-of-state, how can we ensure we have enough qualified technology talent to fill highly technical positions?

The August 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Julie Bonner, director of communications at FreeFall Aerospace; Claire Conway, Arizona STEM ecosystem programs manager at SciTech Institute; and Betsy Hargrove, superintendent of the Avondale Elementary School District. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council and SciTech Institute, in discussing the importance of STEM education in building the pipeline of technology talent for today and tomorrow’s workforce needs.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of STEM experts spoke about how the growing number of technology companies calling Arizona home is creating an intensified demand for qualified talent to fill technical roles. But to hire talent effectively, our panel of experts recommended shifting the conversation away from “developing the pipeline of STEM talent” and towards focusing on students and their career pathways.

FreeFall Aerospace is developing innovative antenna solutions for space and ground systems. Expertise derived from radio astronomy at the University of Arizona and planetary exploration research from NASA JPL provides a new perspective on the challenges of high-frequency satellite communication.

FreeFall is proud to have received the Startup Innovator of the Year Award from the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Technology Council.

Julie Bonner, Director of Communications for FreeFall Aerospace, connects partners, vendors, and investors to FreeFall’s innovative antenna systems. She’s developed branding and marketing campaigns for national corporations like Mister Car Wash and Clear Channel Outdoor to more Arizona-based start-ups and non-profits.

She has been awarded the Tucson AdFed Next Generation Award for significantly impacting the advertising industry through leadership, career achievements, and personal qualities. She is the Chair of the Women in the Workforce of the Arizona Technology Council, an organizer for CreativeMornings/Tucson, and is active in Local First Arizona and Start-Up Tucson.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design from Drexel University and an MBA.

Follow FreeFall Aerospace on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

The Avondale Elementary School District was established in 1894. We have the highest percentage of A rated schools in the Southwest Valley. Located west of Phoenix, our district is home to nine schools ranging from preschool through eighth grade with several magnet programs.

We have been recognized at the national and state level for our passion and commitment for educational excellence. Having obtained numerous A ratings for our schools, we continue to be a leader in public education. We are proud to be the district of choice.

Dr. Betsy Hargrove has been the Superintendent of the Avondale Elementary School District (AESD) since 2012 after having served as the Assistant Superintendent since March 2009. She provides ongoing leadership in creating a positive climate of high expectations for all involved with the educational programs of the district.

She also works to engage in the continuous improvement of the Avondale educational community by implementing and monitoring the achievement of district goals and mission for every student to grow as a thinker, problem solver and communicator to pursue a future without limits. Ensuring this mission is reached, Dr. Hargrove and her team actively seek opportunities to build relationships with community stakeholders, business people and civic leaders to make connections within the district and sites.

The Avondale Elementary School District has embedded continuous improvement focus in all systems throughout the organization. Layering of high yield instructional practices, job embedded professional development, focused and collaborative accountability, and teacher and leader empowerment has demonstrated ongoing success. The result is that AESD has outperformed the state in growth in achievement four years in a row.

Dr. Hargrove has presented at the American Educational Research Association, Character Education Forum, National Staff Development Council Mega Conference, TAP National Conferences, 21st Century STEM Conference, Arizona School Administrators, National School Board Association, U.S. News STEM Solutions National Leadership Conference, School Connect Summit and American Association of School Administrators to share this approach and highlight the successes of the Avondale Elementary School District. Beyond the shared professional and academic accomplishments of the entire AESD community, Dr. Hargrove is most proud of her two daughters, Morgan and Clare.

Follow The Avondale Elementary School District on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

SciTech Institute™ was established as the Arizona Technology Council Foundation as the conduit for collaboration among STEM industry, academia, civic, and non-profit organizations in Arizona. Now, rebranded and named the SciTech Institute™ the goal centers around aligning assets and resources to motivate individuals to pursue STEM-related educational and career paths or find a passion while engaged in community events during the SciTech Festival.

The Chief Science Officer program highlights the 6th-12th graders that have been selected as leaders in their schools and communities to receive training to build a world-class community of diverse STEM-literate workers and knowledgeable, engaged citizens. Science For All allows for tax credit donations to provide engaging experiences for students while RAIN (Rural Activation Innovation Network) focuses on resources for the rural areas of Arizona.

As a STEM Learning Ecosystem, SciTech Institute™ focuses on collaboration and connecting individuals with opportunities! STEM Professionals are encouraged to engage with the future workforce by serving as a mentor, leadership coach, panelist, keynote and session trainer during a variety of conferences hosted or sponsored by SciTech Institute™ and The Arizona Technology Council.

Teachers and Administrators are invited to connect with the resources available while activating a large network of STEM champions for student projects, judges at events, volunteers, exhibitors and more. SciTech Festival Event Coordinators are supported during the planning and execution of community STEM events around the state by the SciTech STREET Team Members and the growing network of volunteers. The possibilities are endless! SciTech Institute™ looks forward to connecting with you today. Visit SciTechInstitute.org today for more information.

Claire Conway serves as the Arizona STEM Ecosystem Programs Manager at SciTech Institute. In her role, she collaborates with STEM partners in industry, education, nonprofit, government, and community organizations across Arizona to develop regional STEM hubs that connect and align efforts in our local communities. She also coordinates statewide working groups on the future STEM workforce and STEM programming in Arizona libraries. As a facilitator of the Arizona STEM Ecosystem, she is a connection point between students such as the Chief Science Officers, educators, out-of-school programs, workforce opportunities, and industry experts.

Claire holds a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California, where she conducted research in biomaterials and nanomedicine and coordinated volunteer programming for the university. An Arizona native and lifelong STEM enthusiast, she is passionate about fostering a STEM community where ALL students are able to chase their passions and access the many opportunities our state has to offer.

Follow SciTech Institute on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Karen Jayne with Stardust Barbara Blalock with Treasures 4 Teachers and Tom Mehlert with AZ StRUT

August 1, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Karen Jayne with Stardust Barbara Blalock with Treasures 4 Teachers and Tom Mehlert with AZ StRUT

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Karen Jayne with Stardust Barbara Blalock with Treasures 4 Teachers and Tom Mehlert with AZ StRUT

Stardust Non-Profit Building Supplies provides quality reclaimed materials for reuse. Founded in 1997, Stardust was created when a local philanthropist and founding Board member was about to undertake a complete home remodeling project. As with any major remodeling project, the first step is to remove everything from the home, essentially gutting the structure in preparation for rebuilding.

On the weekend before the demolition was to begin, the Founder told several friends to take whatever they wanted out of the house. When the Founder and his wife returned to inspect the property prior to demolition they were surprised to discover every usable material had been removed from the house including cabinets, plumbing fixtures, lighting and electrical supplies and flooring. The Founder’s friends used the materials to remodel their own homes, sold items to those who could not afford the prices of large retail stores or donated items to others in need. It is from this humble beginning that Stardust was born.

Over the past 25 years, Stardust has increased its focus on diverting usable building materials from local landfills while providing a resource for low income homeowners who are interested in remodeling their homes. Stardust operates retail warehouse stores selling building supplies donated by manufacturers, distributors, contractors and individuals. This process diverts over 5.0 million tons of reusable building materials from local landfills every year making new and nearly-new materials available to our community at 50-80% off retail prices.

Proceeds generated by Stardust Reuse Centers are used to support Deconstruction and Gifts In Kind programs. Stardust Deconstruction services offer removal and pick-up of materials to further encourage recycling and environmental stewardship. Stardust Deconstruction crews remove useable building materials from homes and businesses in return for donation of the items removed. Gifts In Kind, operated in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way, annually distributes over $22 million in usable materials donated by local retailers such as Wal-Mart and Home Depot to nonprofit organizations for use by their clients or to support their operations.

Stardust’s Gifts In Kind program supports over 400 non-profit agencies in Maricopa County and touches the lives of over 200,000 individuals and their families every year. It is through these community service programs and partnerships that Stardust is able to serve a wide range of individuals from young to elderly, all living at or below the poverty level.

Chief Executive Officer, Karen Jayne has over 30 years of experience in non-profit and for-profit leadership, management, program design, and fund development.

In 2011, Jayne was appointed to CEO of Stardust and in her tenure she has increased diversion rates of usable building materials and launched the Gifts In Kind program which has distributed more than $75 million worth of reusable household items to fellow nonprofit organizations.

She holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Regis University in Denver, Colorado. She has served in leadership capacities on the board of the Organization of Nonprofit Executives as well as the national Building Materials Reuse Association and Social Enterprise Alliance Arizona Chapter.

Currently she serves as a board member for the Arizona Recycling Coalition and a member of USGBC AZ Market Leadership Advisory Board and the Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits Policy Council.

Follow Stardust Nonprofit Building Supplies on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

With an average of more than $700 annually coming from their own pockets, educators are struggling to get their students the essential supplies they need to be successful learners.

Treasures 4 Teachers (T4T) has found a way to support educators with those needs by collaborating with community businesses, other non-profit agencies, and individual donors to collect new and re-usable resources and make them available for low or no cost to educators in our community.

Barbara Blalock is the Founder and Executive Director or Treasures 4 Teachers.

She has been in education and nonprofit roles throughout her career which led her to start Treasures 4 Teachers.

Barbara has been recognized in the community for awards and grants to support her mission of providing free and low cost supplies to teachers across Arizona.

Connect with Barbara on LinkedIn and follow Treasures 4 Teachers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

AZ StRUT is a 501c3 nonprofit that supports Arizona’s technical education and a community effort towards a more sustainable future.

Tom Mehlert has over thirty five years in technology and education.

He’s still excited to be with AZ StRUT, an organization that combines computer electronic reuse with technical education.

Follow AZ StRUT on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Building Community One Relationship at a Time E25

July 28, 2022 by Karen

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Phoenix Business Radio

Building Community One Relationship at a Time E25

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Building Community One Relationship at a Time E25

Another great LIVE show in the books! It was great to have Randy and Lloyd on the show together. Not only was there alignment in the conversation around conscious business, community focus, and education improvement, there is also a new relationship built between the two of them in the Phoenix Business Community. This is another beautiful example of how we can make change in the community- one relationship at a time.

These two are making amazing change in the Phoenix community and showcasing the importance of building strong communities. Along with the discussions of culture and community, there were some great tidbits and takeaways from the conversation that can be acted on immediately.

What were some of the takeaway tidbits?

Never discount anyone
Articulate who you are
Everyone wants to make a difference. Just find what is meaningful to you

Just because the recording is over, doesn’t mean the involvement stops there. There were some great discussions that include some actions that you can take to get involved.

Time to Take Action!

September 12th Event at Grand Canyon University- Beyond Zero Movie Screening Event

After a life changing epiphany, the CEO of a global public company embarks on a high stakes quest to eliminate all negative environmental impacts by 2020. To succeed they must overcome deep skepticism, abandon the status quo and ignite a new industrial revolution.

The full event will include snacks and drinks, networking, movie screening, and an on stage conversation with the film’s producer. You can find more details by emailing Randy.gibb@gcu.edu and let him know that you heard about it on the Culture Crush Business Podcast.

Classroom Supply Drive and Annual Fundraiser for the Million Dollar Teacher Project

The Million Dollar Teacher Project could use your support. They are doing their best to support students by supporting teachers and can use a little more help in doing so. There is an annual fundraiser and a classroom drive going on right now.

Email lloyd@mdtproject.org to learn more and let him know that you heard about it through the Culture Crush Business Podcast.

Million Dollar Teacher Project is a nonprofit organization that partners with Title I Schools, in marginalized communities, on creating community-centered strategies to help them increase how their teachers are recognized, drive more support directly into their classrooms and create innovative ways to impact how their teachers are compensated.

Lloyd Hopkins is the Executive Director/Founder of Million Dollar Teacher Project. Lloyd is an organizational leader with extensive experience in community and nonprofit work. He has worked in and around education for 18 years.

In addition to being a Founder and Executive Director he is also an entrepreneur and philanthropist. As a philanthropist he is the Chair of Real Engagement through Active Philanthropy (R.E.A.P) which is a fund under the Arizona Community Foundation the supports programs making positive impacts on African-American Youth and is currently working with an Achieve60AZ Taskforce on improving attainment for the African American community in Arizona.

For his efforts he was recently a finalist for the Phoenix Center of the Arts Mayor’s Arts Awards for his Million Dollar Teacher Tree program and was honored by the East Valley NAACP with the Malala Yousafzai Equity in Education Award. He is also an alum of Valley Leadership’s Class 40.

Connect with Lloyd on LinkedIn and follow Million Dollar Teach Project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Randy Gibb, PhD, joined GCU in July 2014 and served as the dean of the Colangelo College of Business until 2022. His team grew the college based the pillars of servant leadership, ethics, and entrepreneurism and promoted the ideals/concepts of free market capitalism and business as a form of ministry.

In July 2022, he stepped into the role as Provost. Dr. Gibb served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force and commanded two Air Force flying units and retired as a Colonel and Command Pilot.

He also has academic leadership experience and taught as Department Chair of the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Behavioral Science and Leadership Department, helped lead the human systems integration program at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, OH, as a Senior Military Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering and Management Department, and served at Arizona State University as an Associate Professor and Chair of the Human and Environmental Systems Department.

Dr. Gibb has extensive experience in aviation safety, human factors, visual perception and spatial disorientation, as well as leadership development. Dr. Gibb, originally from Wisconsin, earned his PhD and MS in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. He also has an MA from the U.S. Naval Command and Staff College in Newport, RI, and was a distinguished graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986.

Dr. Gibb served on the Governor’s Workforce Arizona Council, Canyon Angels founding board, WESTMARC board of directors, and Arizona’s board of Conscious Capitalism.

Connect with Randy on LinkedIn, and follow Grand Canyon University on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About Culture Crush

Culture is not just a tag word to be thrown around. It is not something you throw in job descriptions to draw people to applying for jobs within a company.

According to Marcus Buckingham and Ashely Goodall in their book Nine Lies About Work, “Culture is the tenants of how we behave. It’s like a family creed. This is how we operate and treat each other in the family.”

As a growing company- Culture Crush Business Podcast is THE culture improvement resource that supports companies and leaders. Our Mission is to improve company cultures so people WANT to go to work. Employees and leaders should like where they work and we think this is possible.

Within the company: Culture Crush has Vetted Resources and Partnerships with the right people and resources that can help improve your company culture.

On this podcast: We focus on everything surrounding businesses with good company culture. We will talk with company leaders to learn about real-life experiences, tips, and best practices for creating a healthy work environment where employees are finding joy and satisfaction in their work while also striving and growing within the company. We also find the companies that offer resources to help improve company culture and showcase them on the show to share their tips and tricks for growing culture.

About the Host

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.

Shout Outs

We want to thank a few people for their behind the scenes effort in helping this relaunch to come to life. James Johnson with Tailored Penguin Media Company LLC.– It is a small, but powerful video production company with a goal to deliver the very best by articulating the vision of your brand in a visually creative way. Gordon Murray with Flash PhotoVideo, LLC. -Flash Gordon has been photographing since high school and evolving since then with new products that will equip, encourage, engage, and enable. Renee Blundon with Renee Blundon Design – She is not only one of the best free divers (that’s not how she helped with the podcast) but she is great with graphics design and taking the direction for the vision that you have while also adding creative ideas to bring to your vision to life.

These are just a few of the folks that supported the relaunch of the podcast. If you would like to be part of the Culture Crush team or would like to support underwriting the show- please reach out: info@culturecrushbusiness.com

MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

September 19, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

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MIND MONEY MOTION Elena Zee with ACEE and Lupe Camargo with Perspective Financial Services

Financial success is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. So it’s crucial to be sure we have a good foundation of knowledge and understanding. Personal finance is a life skill that needs to be taught in our schools and reinforced at home. Elena Zee from the Arizona Council on Economic Education, shares how Arizona is educating students as part of the new law passed requiring personal finance as a graduation requirement. Childhood is often the beginning of our money script messages in our head and then consumer marketing knows how to trigger emotions to impact our purchasing, not always for our own good. Lupe Camargo, from Perspective Financial Services, discusses our habit loops and how we can make positive behavior change when it comes to money decisions or any area we want to improve in our life.

Our mindset and body/mind connections are key factors that impact our health, success, and happiness in life. Not sure where to start or what next step to take? Listen in to what our guests have to share and challenge yourself to act on one of their tips. Elena offers fun ways to help children practice critical thinking when it comes to money decisions, how to consider the opportunity cost when you make your own personal purchase decisions, and encourages us to focus our actions on the question “what kind of life do I want to live?”. Lupe reminds us of the science behind marketing, steps we can take to work around our brain’s tendencies in order to be successful in making change and how we can overcome that “I am not good with money” script in our head.

The ACEE envisions a world where all school-aged children are empowered through economic and personal financial literacy to make informed and rational choices throughout their lives as consumers, savers and investors, workers, entrepreneurs, citizens, and participants in a global economy.

Our Mission is to reach and teach every Arizona student to become financially and economically responsible in work and life.

Elena Zee is President and CEO of the Arizona Council on Economic Education. Prior to this role, Elena had worked in the global financial services industry for more than twenty years, with her first job as an econometrician developing predictive modeling to launch new products at American Express in New York. She was then promoted to Director of International Operations responsible for customer service, business growth and process improvement worldwide.

Elena’s extensive work and travel internationally brought her to Arizona to build the international information management MIS and business analytics infrastructure and teams. Elena has a Master’s Degree in Economics from Columbia University and Double Bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Math from Wellesley College. She is a graduate of Lodestar American Express Leadership Academy Class VII and Valley Leadership Class 40. She is also a Certified Financial PlannerTM, and taught financial planning and economics at universities.

Elena is very passionate about education, professional development, economic empowerment, and international exchange, having served on the boards of Global Economic Education Alliance, Organization for Nonprofit Executives, National Association of Economic Educators, Phi Beta Kappa of Greater Phoenix, and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Arizona. Elena has represented the City of Phoenix multiple times to visit China for cultural, education, tourism and business exchange.

Follow ACEE on Twitter and Facebook.

Perspective Financial Services is a full service Financial Planning and Investment Management firm. They are fee-only planners acting as their clients’ fiduciary, putting clients’ interests before their own. They do not receive commissions or any third-party sales which allows them to remain free of conflicts of interest.

As qualified financial planners they help manage finances, provide direction in identifying goals, and help maintain a balanced portfolio in uncertain economic times. They strive first to understand clients background, philosophy, needs, objectives and concerns to develop a personal plan for their unique situation. They then provide the necessary resources to understand options to make confident decisions.

They help clients gain control of their financial life with a range of customized services and online tools that will organize everything from budgeting, taxes and insurance needs to planning, investments and goal setting.

Lupe Camargo has been serving clients as a financial planner for 15 years. She received her undergraduate degree from Arizona State, and her MBA from University of Texas at Austin. Prior to becoming a financial planner, Lupe held management positions with US West and Honeywell.

In addition to providing financial planning services, Lupe also works with clients to explore opportunities to create stronger financial habits, and understand behaviors that may be preventing them from achieving their goals. She is a lifelong learner, and has been certified and has conducted boot camps on behavior change. This passion began as she pursued her goal of optimizing her own health.

She is active in her community, and has dedicated years of service to both the Girl Scouts AZ Cactus Pine Council, and the Friends of the Tempe Public Library.

Connect with Lupe on LinkedIn.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

The Women’s Enterprise Foundation (WEF) is a 501(C)3 charitable organization that supports and inspires women business owners within the greater Phoenix area. For over 10 years we have sponsored women through scholarships and grant funding. Our monthly scholarship applications and bi-annual grant opportunities have assisted over 20 women in 2018 and 2019. These women continue to develop themselves as business leaders. The grants give them the increased capital to help generate greater revenue in their business. Scholarships help support their business growth through leadership and business training. We know when women grow their businesses, they benefit entire communities.

The first Friday in November each year, we hold our annual fundraiser at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. This year our featured guest speaker will be Dr. Connie Mariano, the first military woman to serve as a White House Physician to the President. Info for scholarships and grants, as well as our upcoming event may be found at .

WEF is proud to sponsor Marie Burns in her podcasts, Mind, Money and Motion, that will positively educate women about money habits. We are excited for Marie Burns to spread her message, as it is consistent with the success for women in business, as well as their personal financial growth.

Our financial support of Marie’s grant continues to create a foundation that WEF fosters. We believe that women are the glue for their communities as they participate in, orchestrate and mediate relationships, opportunities and business growth. We are confident that her support and success will multiply and benefit many others.

Mind Money Motion is an education business whose mission is to help women worry less about running out of money by keeping their mind and body healthy so they can enjoy LESS WORRY, MORE LIFE.

Money is the number one stressor in American’s lives and one of the main reasons for divorce. Women are often uncomfortable with financial decisions OR don’t have the time or interest to take care of financial matters OR don’t know where to begin or if they are on track.

As the founder, Marie Burns provides tools and resources through her podcast, books, speaking events, website and social media to be the financial advocate women need.

ABOUT YOUR HOST:

Marie Burns, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), has been advocating for clients’ financial health for almost 20 years.

Originally from Wisconsin, she has helped clients with their financial lives in a fiduciary capacity in a bank setting, accounting firm, at Vanguard, at a financial planning firm and now has an independent advisory practice where she offers financial planning and investment management called Focus Point Planning.

She is a volunteer ambassador and board member for The Financial Awareness Foundation, member of the Financial Planning Association, board member for the Senior Advocacy Group of Ahwatukee, author of a financial checklist book series, and podcast host of Mind, Money, Motion, where she strives to help women enjoy LESS WORRY, MORE LIFE!

Follow Mind, Money, Motion on Facebook.

Four Peaks for Teachers with Four Peaks Brewing Company and Treasures 4 Teachers

June 1, 2019 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Four Peaks for Teachers with Four Peaks Brewing Company and Treasures 4 Teachers

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Four Peaks for Teachers with Four Peaks Brewing Company and Treasures 4 Teachers

Four Peaks Brewing Co. and local partners will provide classroom supplies to thousands of teachers throughout Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada with its annual ‘Four Peaks For Teachers’ Classroom-Supply Fundraiser.

Four Peaks Brewing Co.’s highly anticipated “Four Peaks For Teachers” classroom-supply fundraiser is celebrating its ninth year by expanding its footprint beyond Arizona to also include Nevada and New Mexico. In partnership with organizations like Treasures 4 Teachers and Teacher EXCHANGE, Four Peaks and volunteers will fill 6,500 boxes to provide thousands of teachers with much-needed school supplies.

Four Peaks’ co-founder Jim Scussel created this campaign in 2011 when he learned from customers at Four Peaks that teachers often struggle from a lack of basic supplies. In an effort to help, Four Peaks petitioned customers, staff, and family to donate supplies for teachers to pick up at the brewery. What started from humble beginnings has since become an expansive, multi-state effort that grows each year and has resulted in the donation of more than 12,000 classroom supply boxes to date!

“It’s humbling to see how ‘Four Peaks For Teachers’ has grown to impact more and more teachers over the years,” Four Peaks co-founder Jim Scussel says. “It’s imperative we support our educators, now more than ever. They are tasked with nurturing and shaping young minds, and it’s difficult to believe they are asked to do so without proper supplies. I think we can all agree that without them, we would all be lost! We could not have executed this program without our many partners and volunteers. Thank you to all!”

Those looking to participate can donate to the campaign beginning June 4 by:

Buying beer. Throughout June, a percentage of sales of Four Peaks beer at Four Peaks pubs and participating retailers will be set aside for Four Peaks For Teachers.
Purchasing State 48 tees at Four Peaks locations (proceeds benefit Treasures for Teachers)
Participating in the charity raffle by purchasing $5 raffle tickets at any Four Peaks location. Raffle prizes include a custom Four Peaks cruiser bike, signed merchandise from Arizona sports teams, concert tickets, gift cards, and more. Raffle will run June 4-July 19.

Jess Neill, a teacher and instructional coach for the Laveen Elementary School District, has participated in Four Peaks for Teachers since the program’s inception nine years ago. She says the program is vital—especially for new teachers.

“First-year teachers legitimately have nothing,” Neill says. “They don’t realize they need things like staplers, or scissors, and their school districts might not provide them.”

Part of why Four Peaks for Teachers is so great, she says, is because the kits that are donated come with those things young teachers assume they’re automatically given. And the costs of those items add up. Neill says that she spent $1,000 on supplies during a nine-month period early in her teaching career, and though the school district she’s in currently is much better about providing equipment for teachers, she still spends hundreds of dollars a year on extra supplies for her students.

“In an ideal world, we wouldn’t need Four Peaks for Teachers,” says Neill. “But it’s good to know we have it.”

Arizona Voucher Pick Up and Kit Distribution Timeline:

Teachers can pick up their vouchers for free June 24 to June 28 at the following locations in Arizona:

Tucson: Monsoons Tap & Grill and Trident III
Tempe: Four Peaks 8th Street Brewery and Treasures for Teachers
Scottsdale: Four Peaks Grill & Tap
Flagstaff: Majestic Marketplace
West Valley: Treasures for Teachers
Sedona: Oregano’s

Teachers will be able to redeem their vouchers and pick up their school supply kits on/at:

Monday, July 15 .
- Tucson: Trident III, 4-8 p.m.
Tuesday, July 16
- West Valley: Treasures for Teachers Tempe, 4-7 p.m.
- Tucson: Monsoons Tap & Grill, 4-8 p.m.
Wednesday, July 17
- West Valley: Treasures for Teachers Tempe, 4-7 p.m.
- Tempe: Four Peaks 8th Street Brewery, 2-6 p.m.
- Scottsdale: Four Peaks Grill & Tap, 2-6 p.m.
Thursday, July 18
- Tempe: Treasures for Teachers Tempe, 8am – 4pm
- Flagstaff: Majestic Marketplace, 5-8 p.m.
Friday, July 19
- Tempe: Four Peaks 8th Street Brewery, 2-6 p.m.
- Scottsdale: Four Peaks Grill & Tap, 2-6 p.m.

Teachers who are unable to collect their boxes at the times listed on their vouchers may do so on July 19 at Four Peaks 8th Street Brewery from 2-6 p.m.

All unclaimed boxes will be donated to Back 2 School Bounty and will be hand-delivered to schools across Arizona in need of supplies.

New Mexico & Nevada Voucher Pick Up and Kit Distribution Timeline

Teachers can pick up their vouchers for free July 2 to July 3 at the following locations in New Mexico & Nevada:

Albuquerque: Total Wine & More (Uptown) 12-5 p.m. on Tuesday July, 2
- Voucher applicable for box pick up at Rock & Brew only
Albuquerque: Total Wine & More (Cottonwood) 12-5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3
- Voucher applicable for box pick up at The Effingbar & Grill only
Las Vegas: No voucher pick up will be necessary for Vegas teachers. Teachers will have to show their ID to pick up their boxes.

Teachers will be able to redeem their vouchers and pick up their school supply kits on/at:

Albuquerque: Rock and Brews, 12-5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31
Albuquerque: The Effingbar & Grill, 1 p.m.-6p.m. on Thursday, August 1st
Las Vegas: Teacher EXCHANGE, 9-3 p.m daily Wednesday, July 31st – Saturday, August 24th

The distribution of the kits will be determined by the number of vouchers given out at each location; vouchers will have the date, time and location of the supply kit pickup.

Four Peaks Brewing Co. has helped define craft beer in the Southwest since its founding in 1996. Their brewers are committed to creating exceptional beers meant to be shared—and they have 24 combined medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup to show for it. Anchored by the flagship Kilt Lifter Scottish-style ale, Four Peaks is currently available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah.

Zach Fowle is Four Peaks’ communications manager. He handles internal and external messaging for the brewery; his responsibilities range from the creation of messaging on the Four Peaks website and social media accounts, to keeping Four Peaks employees informed of all the goings-on at the company, to representing the brewery with the media.

Zach is also an Advanced Cicerone, which is the third level in the Cicerone program, the beer industry standard for identifying those with significant knowledge and professional skills in beer. There are currently only 118 people with this title in the world.

Jim Scussel is the founding partner of Arizona’s largest brewery, which produces and distributes beer around Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Texas, Hawaii, and Utah. Four Peaks Brewing Company also runs two restaurants that serves eclectic brewpub-style food.

Jim has served on the Board of Directors for the Tempe Chamber of Commerce from 2007-2010. He is currently serving on the Board of Directors for a nonprofit charity, Melonhead, which assists families with children who have cancer by providing day to day funds.

He also served on the Board of the Diamondbacks Foundation for 4 years which has donated over $37 million to date to local AZ charities. Jim also is on the Board of Directors for Mexican Moonshine Tequila, Roger Clyne’s own tequila from Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, formerly, The Refreshments which is sold in 20 states nationwide.

In November 2017, Jim was inducted as an Honorary Commander of the 161st Refueling Wind Team of the Goldwater Air National Guard Base located at Sky Harbor Airport. He will volunteer his time for 2 years with the Phoenix Air National Guard to promote the vital services they provide to the state of Arizona and the country.

Jim is also a partner and investor in the Phoenix Rising FC soccer team which is part of the United Soccer League and the team took second place in 2018. The goal is to elevate the team to Major League Soccer which is the highest level of professional soccer in the United States.

Jim and his wife, Jennifer, have two daughters, Lauryn, 16, who attends high school at Corona Del Sol and Olivia, 13, who attends Summit School of Ahwatukee and they live South Tempe.

Follow Four Peaks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Barbara Blalock is the Founder and Executive Director of Treasures 4 Teachers which started in her garage 15 years ago. Barbara was made aware of the fact that educators did not have the funds or supplies to provide to their students for them to be successful in school.

Barbara made it her mission to collect supplies from businesses and companies across the valley and get those supplies into the hands of the educators that needed them most.

Today, Treasures 4 Teachers is located in a 20,000 square foot facility with an affiliate in Tucson and a soon to be satellite location in the West Valley. Last year Treasures 4 Teachers served over 4500 teachers impacting more than 150,000 students!

Andrea Ellingboe has been working with students for the past twenty+ years as an educator and administrator. She has always been passionate about helping students expand their creativity and imagination through hands-on learning opportunities.

She started by working with young children and parents and creating play opportunities using simple household objects and recycled materials.

She now combines her passions of recycling, repurposing and hands-on educational opportunities as the West Valley director of the soon-to-be-opened West Valley Treasures 4 Teachers.

Follow Treasures 4 Teachers on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and West Valley Treasures 4 Teachers on Facebook