THE ARIZONA WE WANT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, College & Career Pathways Liaison, Southern Arizona
Aaron Ball started his career as an Agriscience High School Teacher. After five years of teaching, he moved to school administration and spent two years as a high school assistant principal and two years as an elementary principal. Prior to coming to CFA Ball was Assistant Superintendent/Chief Academic Officer for nearly seven years with the Pima County Joint Technical Education District. In that role, he worked to build partnerships with business, K-12, postsecondary institutions and community-based organizations.
Ball holds a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture and a Master's degree in Agriculture Education, both from the University of Arizona. He holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman and CEO, Pinnacle West Capital Corp. ( Retired )
Mr. Post retired as chair and chief executive officer of Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (Pinnacle West) in April 2009. He joined Arizona Public Service (the largest subsidiary of Pinnacle West) in 1973 and held several officer positions at Arizona Public Service and Pinnacle West. Mr. Post joined the boards of Arizona Public Service in 1995 and Pinnacle West in 1997. Mr. Post became chair of both boards in 2001 and retired in April 2010. He is currently chair of the board of the Translational Genomics Research Institute and serves on the boards of directors of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona and the City of Hope. Mr. Post has served as chair of Swift Transportation, SunCor Development Company, Stagg Information Systems, Nuclear Assurance Corporation, Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, and El Dorado Investment Company. He also served as a director of Phelps Dodge Corporation and U.S. Airways. In addition to his long-standing service as a member of the Center for the Future of Arizona Board, Mr. Post serves as chair of the boards of the Business Coalition, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, and the United Way Campaign. He is currently chair of the Arizona State University Enterprise Partners Foundation. Mr. Post has a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University. Mr. Post has received numerous awards and honors, including the National Americanism Award from the Anti-Defamation League, the Arizona State Heritage Award, and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Northern Arizona University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Director for AHCCCS
- Director of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
Carmen Heredia serves as the director of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona's Medicaid and CHIP Program, overseeing the provision of acute, behavioral health, and long-term care services and supports to more than 2.5 million Arizona residents at an annual cost of $22 billion. She was appointed by Governor Katie Hobbs on December 23, 2022.
Throughout her career, Ms. Heredia has passionately advocated for access to quality healthcare and education for underserved populations. Directly prior to joining AHCCCS, Ms. Heredia was the CEO of Valle del Sol, a provider organization delivering integrated behavioral health and primary care health as a federally qualified health center and a federally certified community behavioral health center.
Ms. Heredia has served on a variety of government task forces and boards, including St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, the Center for the Future of Arizona, the Arizona Alliance of Community Health Centers, National Council of Behavioral Health, the Phoenix Community Development and Investment Corporation, Contexture Health Information Exchange, and the ASU College of Health Solutions. She is a 2021 Virginia G. Piper Fellow and an alum of the Hispanic Leadership Institute. Ms. Heredia holds a master's degree in social work from Arizona State University with a concentration in planning and administration.
Job Titles:
- Manager, Marketing & Communications
Chloe brings over eight years of marketing and communications experience to the Center for the Future of Arizona having served as the Marketing Manager at Foundation for Blind Children. Prior to her role in the non-profit sector, Chloe served as a reporter and host in Phoenix, Ariz. at ABC 15 and CW 61. Chloe holds a Master's in Mass Communication from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School. As well as a Bachelor's in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Meteorology from Arizona State University's Cronkite School. Throughout her time at Cronkite, Chloe was a National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences scholarship recipient and had the unique opportunity of participating in the Dow Jones News Fund Fellowship program.
In the community, Chloe serves on the board of the Greater Phoenix Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals overseeing the association's mentoring program to support the growth of future development professionals. Throughout her career, Chloe's work has served Arizonans. She looks forward to continuing this passion as part of CFA's ambition to move Arizona forward.
Job Titles:
- Director, College & Career Pathways
Cindy Erwin joined the Center for the Future of Arizona in 2018 as the Director for College and Career Pathways. Cindy is responsible for working with education and industry partners to ensure that many more young people complete high school and earn a postsecondary credential with labor market value, launching them into initial careers while ensuring that they have the foundation necessary for further education.
Cindy has over 25 years of experience in educational leadership, learning and development, strategic design and organizational transformation in both the public and private sectors. Cindy's roles in education have included serving students and communities as a teacher, as the planning and first principal of Williams Field High School in the Higley Unified School District, and as an administrator with AAEC Early College High School in both the Paradise Valley and South Mountain communities. Additionally, Cindy worked with the Maricopa County Community College District in a leadership role within their Corporate College. In all these roles, Cindy helped define the strategic direction of the organization while keeping the student/learner at the center of the mission of the organization.
After teaching and prior to her school leader roles, Cindy spent several years in the private sector working with Fortune 500 companies such as Eli Lilly and Company and Johnson Controls as well as high-tech startups where she was involved in systems re-engineering and new business launch initiatives. Cindy earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Purdue University.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer, Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, Footprint Center
Dan Costello is in his 16th season with the Phoenix Suns. As Executive Vice President & Chief Revenue Officer, Costello oversees all revenue generation departments including Ticket Sales and Service and Global Partnership Solutions. Costello also oversees the organization's strategies involving Business Intelligence / Strategy and Broadcast Media as well as Suns Legacy Partners' interest in the Legends Entertainment District. Under Costello's leadership the team has set franchise records for revenue and has been recognized by the NBA as a Changemaker, winning the league award twice for the creation of partnerships that shape an industry (PayPal in 2019, Footprint in 2022).
Born and raised in Georgia, Deja Broughton came to Arizona to pursue higher education, where she grew to love Arizona and developed a passion for helping people in the community.
Before joining Center for the Future of Arizona as the Coordinator of Operations in 2022, she served as social media manager for the State of Black Arizona. Her professional experience includes administrative support, digital media, marketing, and event planning.
Deja earned her Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication and Media Studies with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President
- Member of the Leadership & Staff
- Executive Vice President of the Center for the Future of Arizona
Dr. Amanda Burke is Executive Vice President of the Center for the Future of Arizona. Dr. Burke focuses on innovation and systemic change that will advance the priorities of Arizonans and the long-term future success of the state. She is responsible for the organization's strategy, operations, and program leadership, including CFA's statewide initiatives in the areas of education, workforce, and civic engagement.
Dr. Burke previously served as CFA's Managing Director for Strategic Initiatives and Impact. Prior to joining CFA in 2009, she was the Director of Education Innovation and Policy at Arizona State University in the Office of University Initiatives within the Office of the President. Since 2004, Dr. Burke has worked at the intersection of policy and practice, advancing statewide policy and leading the design and implementation of large-scale innovative initiatives and programs. She is a Teach For America alumna and also worked as a consultant with the global management consulting firm Accenture.
In the community, Dr. Burke serves on the Board of Trustees for the Desert Botanical Garden. She is a member of the Kyah Rayne Foundation's strategy team, advancing food allergy awareness and education, and is also an active volunteer with the parent teacher organization at her children's elementary school. Dr. Burke is a recognized leader in education and public policy, named Leader of the Year in Public Policy for Education by the Arizona Capital Times.
Dr. Burke earned a Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Innovation and a Master of Educational Administration and Supervision from Arizona State University. She also holds a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Texas at Austin. Amanda lives in Phoenix with her husband and their two young boys.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Leadership & Staff
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, Sr., Operations
Erika comes to CFA with over 5-years of non-profit experience. She started her Non-Profit career as an intern in college. Upon graduation, she worked as a Project Manager at Teachers for Healthy Kids in Sacramento, CA. In 2020, Erika came to Arizona to work the 2020 Election. She quickly fell in love with the Arizona sunsets and the community. She soon after moved to Phoenix and worked as a Resident Services Coordinator for Project Access in Phoenix, AZ.
She is a first-generation Mexican American and the first in her family to graduate college. She received a bachelor's degree in Sociology and Pre-Law from California State University San Bernardino. In her free time, Erika loves to travel, try new restaurants, and spend time with her family.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, College & Career Pathways, Western Maricopa County
Job Titles:
- Senior Aide to the President & CEO
Esmeralda Franco was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and has devoted her life to improving the lives of Arizonans like herself. She has worked on multiple non-profit/political campaigns both at the local and national levels creating and supporting programs that help engage underserved communities. These campaigns have made it possible for women, domestic workers, and people of color to find access to financial, career, and political resources.
Esmeralda graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a degree in Transborder Chicana/o and Latina/o studies in 2023. This degree has helped her build strong connections to the communities in Arizona. During her time at ASU, Esmeralda supported multiple parts of the institution under Social Embeddedness and Executive Administration by connecting communities to ASU resources. She is excited to use this experience to support the CFA mission and give back to the place she calls home.
One of her favorite parts of living in Phoenix has been exploring the different cultures and meeting all kinds of people from all sorts of backgrounds. She spends most of her time exploring and eating ice cream with her dog Zoloft.
Job Titles:
- Director, Community & Economic Prosperity
Evelyn has over 30 years of experience in economic and community development, leadership, and civic engagement. After 25 years, Evelyn retired in December 2014 as General Manager of Community Affairs at APS, the largest and longest serving investor-owned utility covering 11 of 15 counties in Arizona. Her area encompassed community relations, corporate contributions and volunteer programs, economic development, and strategic partnerships. She served in numerous leadership positions during her tenure at the company. Previous to APS, her roles included nearly 10 years in municipal government serving as City Manager of Eloy and Town Manager of Marana; and Manager of Community/Client Development for the Western Gateway Team, an Arizona regional economic development group, serving five West Valley communities.
Evelyn is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) and serves on several statewide and regional non-profit boards. She has been recognized for her efforts in community service and economic development. Evelyn received her Masters of City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley and her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President and CEO, Greater Phoenix Urban League
- President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Phoenix Urban League
George Dean has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Phoenix Urban League since mid 1992. He is a former CEO of the Sacramento, California and Omaha, Nebraska affiliates, and has served more than 25 years as an Urban League staff member. In February of 2013, he was appointed Western Regional Vice President of the NUL Association of Executives
Mr. Dean has diligently and impressively brought a troubled affiliate back to community responsiveness, valley-wide visibility, and sound fiscal accountability. His leadership focuses on advocacy toward issues affecting the African American and minority community: education, training, job placement, housing and economic development.
George Dean has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Phoenix Urban League since mid 1992. He is a former CEO of the Sacramento, California and Omaha, Nebraska affiliates, and has served more than 25 years as an Urban League staff member. In February of 2013, he was appointed Western Regional Vice President of the NUL Association of Executives (AOE).
Mr. Dean has diligently and impressively brought a troubled affiliate back to community responsiveness, valley-wide visibility, and sound fiscal accountability. His leadership focuses on advocacy toward issues affecting the African American and minority community: education, training, job placement, housing and economic development.
Community involvement for George Dean includes:
ASU Minority Advisory Council, Member
ASU College of Education, Dean's Associate Member
Phoenix Violence Prevention Initiative, Steering Committee Member
Cox Communications Charities, Member of the Board
Phoenix School of Law (Arizona Summit Law School), Board Member
Greenlining Institute, Founder and Co - Chair
Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau, Chairman
Center for the Future of Arizona, Board Member
Past - KAET-Channel 8 - Community Advisory Board Member
Past -Valley of the Sun Communities in Schools, Member of the Board
Past - Maricopa Community College District Board, Advisory Comm. Member
Past - St. Joseph's Hospital, Board Member
Past - Barrow's Neurological Foundation, Member of the Board
Past - Cox Communications Community Advisory, Board Member
Past Affiliations of Mr. Dean are President of the California Council of Urban Leagues, member of the Boards of Directors of Los Rios Community College District Foundation, the Robert J. Matthews Foundation, KVIE Television - PBS, the Sacramento Symphony and Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Honors: Mr. Dean was presented with an Honorary Law Degree from Arizona Summit Law School in May 2013 and the Victoria Foundation established the George H. Dean Scholarship for undergraduates and graduates within the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health at the University of Arizona in December 2014.
Mr. Dean holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Arizona State University and Graduate Studies in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University.
Job Titles:
- Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications
Heather Thornton brings nearly 20 years of award-winning, dynamic professional experience in branding, internal and external communications, and integrated marketing to Center for the Future of Arizona. Her experience spans in-house and consulting agency capacities; global, national, and regional markets; and corporate and social sectors, and includes many well-known companies and brands such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Bayer, Best Buy, Philips, Girl Scouts, Arizona Public Service (APS), and WebPT. Through it all, she balances creative and data-driven critical thinking to help brands harness the power of strategic communications, PR, and marketing and achieve organizational goals.
After completing her undergraduate studies and working for global firms and brands in New York City, Heather relocated to her hometown of Phoenix in 2012. Since then, she has focused on purposeful work aligned with her values as she became engaged and passionate about the continued advancement and development of Arizona. She believes the state's geography and resources, paired with its independent and innovative characteristics (among many other attributes), offer infinite potential for leading key issues at all levels.
Heather holds a bachelor's degree in Arts Administration, with minors in Marketing and French Studies from Wagner College. She subsequently obtained certifications in Demand Creation and Marketing Foundations. Heather is an avid reader, leads with curiosity, and strives to embrace lifelong learning. She is an active member of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), American Marketing Association (AMA), and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
Job Titles:
- Director, Workforce Development
Holly Kurtz joined the Center for the Future of Arizona in October 2016 and is the Director of Workforce Development with accountability for the Retail Career Pathways Sector Initiative and College and Career Pathways.
Previously, Kurtz was the Vice-President of Talent Management at PetSmart, a pet specialty retailer headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. Kurtz joined PetSmart in 2008 and was accountable for talent acquisition, talent management, internal communications, learning & development, leadership development and organizational development. Prior to PetSmart, Kurtz was with Wells Fargo & Company for 28 years in various Corporate HR and business HR leadership roles. Holly is from Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota majoring in Technical Communications.
Job Titles:
- Director, Strategic Data Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, College & Career Pathways - Northern Arizona
Job Titles:
- Manager, Business Operations
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- General Counsel, Medical Products Division W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. ( Retired )
Jill Harrison was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, graduating from Central High School. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she studied history and French, and spent a year abroad studying in France. Following college Jill joined the teaching corps of Teach For America where she taught 6th and 7th grade social studies in Baton Rouge, LA, and earned a Masters Degree from Louisiana State University. Jill then attended law school at the University of Arizona carrying on a family tradition as a third-generation attorney. While in law school, she served as editor-chief of the Arizona Law Review. Following graduation, Jill clerked for the Honorable Richard S. Arnold, then Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eight Circuit. Jill subsequently worked in Phoenix for the law firms of Bryan Cave and Osborn Maledon, where she was elected to membership.
In 2005, Jill and her family moved to Flagstaff, AZ. Jill began work as corporate counsel to W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., where she oversees Gore's global product liability litigation. Jill has been active in different organizations and recently served as a member of the Arizona Commission on Appellate Court Appointments and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Children's Action Alliance, as a member of the Basis Flagstaff Advisory Board, and as a member of the Chabad of Flagstaff Advisry Board. Jill received the Judge Learned Hand Emerging Leadership Award from the Arizona Chapter of The American Jewish committee in 2007 and in 2013 was named Private Company Arizona In-House Counsel of the Year by the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, College & Career Pathways - Southeast Arizona
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Chairman of Several Commissions for the Arizona Supreme Court
Chief Justice Ruth McGregor served on the Arizona Supreme Court from February 1998 until June 30, 2009. She was the Court's Chief Justice from June 2005 until her retirement. She was also a member of the Arizona Court of Appeals from 1989 until 1998, where she served as Chief Judge from 1995 to 1997. Before her appointment to the bench, Justice McGregor engaged in the private practice of law as a member of the Fennemore Craig law firm in Phoenix, Arizona. She served as a law clerk to Justice Sandra Day O'Connor during Justice O'Connor's first term on the United States Supreme Court.
Justice McGregor has participated extensively in professional activities, particularly in those organizations dedicated to assuring a fair and impartial judiciary. She has served as an officer and a member of the Board of Trustees for the American Inns of Court Foundation, the National Association of Women Judges and Justice at Stake; as a board member of the Conference of Chief Justices and the American Judicature Society, and as a member of the Legal Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, including a term as Chair.
Since her retirement, Justice McGregor has been the chair of several commissions for the Arizona Supreme Court. She has completed several investigations for public entities and acted as a special master for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, as a mediator for the City of Phoenix in public transit disputes, and as a special administrator for the Arizona Supreme Court. In addition to her role as a member of the Center for the Future of Arizona Board, Justice McGregor also serves on the board of The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System.
Justice McGregor has received several state and national awards for her work in the judicial system, including the Dwight D. Opperman Award from the American Judicature Society; the A. Sherman Christensen Award from the American Inns of Court Foundation; the James A. Walsh Award from the Arizona State Bar; the Marilyn R. Seymann Award from the Arizona Foundation for Women; the Sarah Herring Sorin Award from the Arizona Women Lawyers Association; and outstanding alumna awards from Arizona State University and the University of Iowa.
Justice McGregor received a Bachelor of Arts degree, summa cum laude and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Iowa. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona, and a Master of Laws in the Judicial Process from the University of Virginia.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager - Civic Health
Job Titles:
- CEO, Tribal Policy People, LLC
- Founder and Owner of Tribal Policy People
Katosha Nakai is the founder and owner of Tribal Policy People, LLC, focusing on tribal policy work across Indian Country. She represents tribal interests and those doing business with tribes. Additionally, Ms. Nakai is an attorney who leads the Phoenix office of Tucson based Strickland & Strickland, P.C. where she represents tribal interests primarily in the areas of water, natural resources and environmental law. Prior to joining Strickland & Strickland, Ms. Nakai served eight years with the Central Arizona Project (CAP) which delivers Colorado River Water to central and Southern Arizona. During her time there she was the Manager of Stakeholder Relations & Strategic Development leading CAP's outreach activities across its diverse stakeholder groups including Municipal & Industrial, Tribal and Agricultural water users and managing strategic planning development, implementation, and tracking.
Ms. Nakai has served Governors in both Republican and Democrat administrations, working as a Policy Advisor to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer providing advisement on energy, broadband, and tribal affairs and serving as chair Arizona's Climate Change Oversight Group, and as a member of Arizona's Homeland Security Senior Advisory Committee. She also was appointed by former Governor Janet Napolitano as a Commissioner of the Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission. Before her state service, Ms. Nakai practiced law at a large Phoenix firm and served as a law clerk to the Chief Judge the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the largest federal appeals court in the country, which hears the vast majority of the nation's Indian law cases. Ms. Nakai, earned both her Juris Doctorate and her Indian Law Certificate from the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Oklahoma City University. She is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
Job Titles:
- Director, Civic Health Initiatives
Lattie F. Coor is President-Emeritus, Professor and Ernest W. McFarland Chair in Leadership and Public Policy in the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University, and is a co-founder and Founding Chair Emeritus of Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA).
Job Titles:
- General Counsel
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the American Law
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Assistant General Counsel, Freeport - McMoRan, Inc.
In June 2015 Lori A. Higuera was hired as assistant general counsel-employment for Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Previously, she was a partner with Fennemore Craig focusing on employment and labor law. She serves in many leadership positions within the community, including the on board of governors for the State Bar of Arizona, the board of directors for the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the steering committee for the Valley of the Sun United Way's Women's Leadership Council and the Children and Youth Advisory Board for the Valley of the Sun United Way. Higuera received her law degree from the University of Chicago Law School.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager Career Exploration
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, College & Career Pathways - Southwest Arizona
Job Titles:
- Leader
- President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation
Paul J. Luna is a nationally recognized leader in philanthropy, education, and community development. Since 2006, he has served as President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation, where he has led the foundation in its efforts to create opportunities for individuals to succeed in postsecondary education. In this role, he is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization, cultivating strong community relationships, and initiating strategic partnerships in Arizona and Florida. He brings more than 30 years of public and private professional experience to the leadership of Helios.
A native of Miami, Arizona, Mr. Luna graduated from Miami High School, and as a first-generation college student, attended Stanford University, where he earned a degree in Civil Engineering. In addition to serving on the Center for the Future of Arizona Board of Directors, Mr. Luna currently serves as a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership, Greater Phoenix Economic Council, the Florida College Access Network Advisory Board, the America's Promise Alliance Board of Directors, the Partnership for Economic Innovation Board of Directors, and the Florida Consortium of Metropolitan Research Universities President's Council.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Education
Job Titles:
- Director, Information Technology
Job Titles:
- Director of Special Projects for the Southern Arizona Leadership Council
- Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Director of Special Projects
Ron Shoopman currently serves as the Director of Special Projects for the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC). He led SALC as President and CEO from 2005 until 2019 when he stepped down to fulfill his duties as chairman of the of Arizona Board of Regents.
Ron was appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents by Governor Jan Brewer in March 2014, concluding his eight-year appointment in June of 2022. He served on the ABOR Executive Committee during his final four years leading a statewide effort to improve educational attainment in Arizona and to improve access to a college education for all Arizona students.
His ongoing commitment to the Tucson community and state of Arizona includes service on multiple boards including the Center for the Future of Arizona, the Campus Research Corporation, and the University of Arizona College of Science Board. He is chair of the MAP Dashboard Advisory Board and he is a member and past Chair of the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
A native of Arizona, Ron has been recognized with multiple awards, including the William F. McWhorter Community Service Leader of the Year, Tucson Father of the Year, and the Greater Tucson Leadership 2019 Founders Award for his lifetime of service.
General Shoopman is a former wing commander of the 162nd Fighter Wing where commanded the International F-16 Training Wing for the United States Air Force. Ron's civilian experience includes 7 years with Gates Learjet Corporation as a marketing manager, a pilot for Continental Airlines and an instructor pilot and manager for Flight Safety International. He received professional military education at the USAF Air War College and the Air Command and Staff College. He received his BS degree from Arizona State University in Aeronautical Technology.
Job Titles:
- Program Coordinator, Sr., Civic Health
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Member of the Leadership & Staff
- Chairman, President & CEO, Center for the Future of Arizona
- Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science
Sybil Francis, Ph.D., serves as the, President & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA). A member of the organization's founding team, she brings her passion for creating positive change, her love of Arizona, and her considerable prior national public policy experience to her leadership of CFA, whose mission is to bring Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.
Under Sybil's leadership, Center for the Future of Arizona has an ambitious and positive agenda, focused on where Arizonans agree and where there is opportunity to come together for positive change. CFA advances The Arizona We Want, based on Arizonans' Shared Public Values and shared aspirations for the future of the state. As a self-proclaimed "do-tank," CFA also impacts education, workforce, and civic engagement through its innovative programs aimed at changing the trajectory of Arizona for the good and benefit of all Arizonans.
Earlier in her career, Sybil served in a variety of national leadership roles, including as a senior policy director in the U.S. House of Representatives, where she played a key role in shaping energy, environmental, and national security policy. She later served in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she focused on national research policy for the national laboratories and universities.
Sybil is an elected Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Global Futures Scholar, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. She served on the board of The Nature Conservancy of Arizona for 12 years and chaired its Conservation and Public Policy Committee for much of her tenure. She was a founder and remains the Standing Chair of ASU's Women and Philanthropy program, a model women's organization with a unique approach to engaging women in the community. She is a member of the Arizona Women's Forum and Charter 100.
Widely regarded as a visionary leader, Sybil was recognized as a Woman of Achievement by InBusiness Magazine in 2020 and named one of Arizona's 48 Most Intriguing Women in 2022 by 48 Arizona Women and the Arizona Historical Society. Arizona Capitol Times twice honored her-among the Women Achievers of Arizona in 2021 and the Leaders of the Year in Public Policy in 2022. The Phoenix Business Journal also recognized her as an Outstanding Woman in Business in 2011 and as the Lifetime Achievement Most Admired Leader Honoree in 2023.
Sybil earned her BA in Chemistry from Oberlin College and her Ph.D. in Political Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
She and her husband, Dr. Michael Crow, live in Paradise Valley. She finds great joy in being the mother of their adult daughter.
Job Titles:
- Project Manager, Workforce Development