Eric Bailey
Eric Bailey is the President of Bailey Strategic Innovation Group. He operates at the unique intersection of passion and analysis, able to captivate data-driven thinkers and emotion-driven feelers alike. With his model, The Principles of Human UnderstandingTM, he is able to translate complex brain science concepts into experiences and lessons that everyone can understand and put into practice. Speaking, facilitating, and coaching across North America, he has a deep passion for helping people move beyond the hurdles that they didn’t even know were there.
Eric Bailey is the President of Bailey Strategic Innovation Group. He operates at the unique intersection of passion and analysis, able to captivate data-driven thinkers and emotion-driven feelers alike. With his model, The Principles of Human UnderstandingTM, he is able to translate complex brain science concepts into experiences and lessons that everyone can understand and put into practice. Speaking, facilitating, and coaching across North America, he has a deep passion for helping people move beyond the hurdles that they didn’t even know were there.
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Kathryn Boris
An Arizona native, Kathryn Boris is proud to be working as a public servant in local government. Beginning as a public transit bus cleaner working night shifts to pay for her Political Science degree at Arizona State to her current capacity as Urban Planner with the City of Phoenix, Kathryn has steadily advanced her public service career over the last eleven years. A founding board member for two different professional development groups, The LGBTQ Employee Alliance and Young Professionals in Transportation – Phoenix she has assisted in providing trainings, networking opportunities, panel discussions, and various professional development opportunities to members in each organization. At the annual Phoenix MLK Celebration Kathryn was honored with the 2019 MLK Living the Dream Award for her dedication and advocacy for LGBTQ communities in Phoenix, focused on the difficulties faced by professionals that identify as transgender in the community. She was also recognized by Friends of Transit as the Intern of the Year in for her work with City of Tempe in 2014. As an emerging leader, Kathryn is dedicated to public service and advancing the careers of professionals that serve the community. |
Lisette Camacho
Ms. Camacho has over 10 years of experience in government accounting and finance. She joined the City of Glendale in May 2013. As the Assistant Budget and Finance Director, she oversees the City’s procurement, accounting, and financial operations. Ms. Camacho holds a B.S. in Global Business Management in Finance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accountancy from Arizona State University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Ms. Camacho has over 10 years of experience in government accounting and finance. She joined the City of Glendale in May 2013. As the Assistant Budget and Finance Director, she oversees the City’s procurement, accounting, and financial operations. Ms. Camacho holds a B.S. in Global Business Management in Finance and a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Accountancy from Arizona State University. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Kerri Carnes
Ms. Carnes is the Manager of Product Development for Arizona Public Service’s (APS) Customer Technology organization where she is on the forefront of customer technology innovation and development.
Prior to this role, she led a team that interacts with the Arizona Corporation Commission and Commission Staff on the regulation of rates and other APS programs. Her team was responsible for the strategic planning, communications, and relationship management on all State regulation issues. Additionally, Ms. Carnes was the Manager of Strategic Procurement in APS’s Supply Chain organization, where her team was responsible for collaborating with APS’s various lines of business and APS’s Supplier community to develop and execute cost effective procurement strategies on behalf of APS and its Customers. During her 16 year career with APS, she also led the Real-Time Trading and Operations group in APS’s Marketing and Trading organization. The Real-Time Trading and Operations group is responsible for forecasting real-time (within the day) customer loads and demands and making economic decisions and generating unit commitments to meet customer demands through the optimization of APS’s generating fleet and market purchases.
In her spare time, Ms. Carnes serves as Secretary of the Arizona Energy Policy Group, enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and focuses on mentoring others along their career paths.
Ms. Carnes is the Manager of Product Development for Arizona Public Service’s (APS) Customer Technology organization where she is on the forefront of customer technology innovation and development.
Prior to this role, she led a team that interacts with the Arizona Corporation Commission and Commission Staff on the regulation of rates and other APS programs. Her team was responsible for the strategic planning, communications, and relationship management on all State regulation issues. Additionally, Ms. Carnes was the Manager of Strategic Procurement in APS’s Supply Chain organization, where her team was responsible for collaborating with APS’s various lines of business and APS’s Supplier community to develop and execute cost effective procurement strategies on behalf of APS and its Customers. During her 16 year career with APS, she also led the Real-Time Trading and Operations group in APS’s Marketing and Trading organization. The Real-Time Trading and Operations group is responsible for forecasting real-time (within the day) customer loads and demands and making economic decisions and generating unit commitments to meet customer demands through the optimization of APS’s generating fleet and market purchases.
In her spare time, Ms. Carnes serves as Secretary of the Arizona Energy Policy Group, enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and focuses on mentoring others along their career paths.
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Dr. Maria Church
Dr. Maria Church, CEO of Government Leadership Solutions, and author of Love-Based Leadership: Transform Your Life with Meaning and Abundance, the upcoming book A Course in Excellence: 21 Spiritual Lessons on Leadership, Love, and Miracles, and co-author of best-selling book, Answering the Call, has started a movement to revolutionize the workplace with a shift from fear to love. Dr. Church specializes in organizational culture design, change agility, strategic off-site facilitation, and leadership development based on her vast 25-year career with Fortune 500, local government, non-profits, and academia. Maria holds a doctorate of management degree in organizational leadership and currently teaches for several universities. She has been featured on radio shows, television interviews, and in magazines. Maria writes a weekly newspaper column on leadership and hosts an online leadership series, Dr. Maria TV. Splitting her time between Scottsdale and the canyons of Southern Arizona, Maria continues to work with high-performing local governments and is working on her next book about rock star local government cultures. |
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Erika Coombs
Erika is an experienced public finance investment banker with a 15 year history of assisting Arizona issuers finance their capital projects. The President of the Mountain Region Chapter of Women in Public Finance, Erika is an advocate for women in this field. Erika is a graduate of the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts and she also holds a Master's degree in Public Administration. |
Michele Dotson
Michele Dotson is a manager at BerryDunn, a management and information technology (IT) consulting and CPA firm. She specializes in project management and change management services for local government organizations undergoing large-scale business transformation projects, and is passionate about helping public servants obtain better tools to serve and strengthen the trust of the public. Prior to her consulting work, she spent five years in the public sector as a management and budget analyst. This experience gave her a well-rounded perspective on local government operations that informs her holistic approach to balancing the business objectives of each project with the benefits of gaining buy-in from the full range of stakeholders. Her work focuses on turning best practices and theory into tailored, actionable strategies for each client’s unique context. She has had the privilege of working alongside local government practitioners throughout the country with stakeholder groups ranging from 50 to 5,000 people, but enjoys working most often with clients in the Southwest near her home base of Phoenix.
She has her Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, and holds her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. She is also a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner, and a Certified Change Management Professional with the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP), a certification obtained by less than 1,000 individuals globally.
Michele Dotson is a manager at BerryDunn, a management and information technology (IT) consulting and CPA firm. She specializes in project management and change management services for local government organizations undergoing large-scale business transformation projects, and is passionate about helping public servants obtain better tools to serve and strengthen the trust of the public. Prior to her consulting work, she spent five years in the public sector as a management and budget analyst. This experience gave her a well-rounded perspective on local government operations that informs her holistic approach to balancing the business objectives of each project with the benefits of gaining buy-in from the full range of stakeholders. Her work focuses on turning best practices and theory into tailored, actionable strategies for each client’s unique context. She has had the privilege of working alongside local government practitioners throughout the country with stakeholder groups ranging from 50 to 5,000 people, but enjoys working most often with clients in the Southwest near her home base of Phoenix.
She has her Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas, and holds her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute. She is also a Prosci® Certified Change Practitioner, and a Certified Change Management Professional with the Association of Change Management Professionals (ACMP), a certification obtained by less than 1,000 individuals globally.
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Sheila Duffy
Sheila Duffy is Director, Investment Advisory Services for Public Trust based in the Southwest region where she focuses on strategy and policy development for public entities, manages client relationships, and provides comprehensive investment management services. She often speaks at conferences and client trainings on current topics in the public funds investment management field. Prior to joining Public Trust, Sheila served as the Chief Investment Officer for the State Treasurer of New Mexico. Sheila received a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Science from Colby College and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is a member of the CFA Society of Colorado, Women in Public Finance, and Women Leading Government in Arizona. |
Shelby Exposito
As a public law attorney, Shelby represents local governments and school districts throughout Arizona, helping them issue bonds, hold elections, and form special districts. She also defends them from open meeting law complaints and employment-related lawsuits, helps develop policies, and advises on compliance with state and federal laws.
As a public law attorney, Shelby represents local governments and school districts throughout Arizona, helping them issue bonds, hold elections, and form special districts. She also defends them from open meeting law complaints and employment-related lawsuits, helps develop policies, and advises on compliance with state and federal laws.
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Elizabeth Fernandez
Elizabeth Fernandez has worked over a decade in compliance in government and institutes of higher education. Prior to joining Aspen Group, Inc., she was an Associate City Attorney with the City of Glendale. She has worked at three universities, including Arizona State University. Ms. Fernandez has taught ethics as an adjunct faculty. Ms. Fernandez received her Juris Doctor at Western State University graduating Magna Cum Laude and is licensed to practice in Arizona. She received her B.S. from the University of Texas and double majored in both Criminal Justice and Psychology gradating Summa Cum Laude. |
Wally Graham
Wally Graham is a recognized leader in organization development with over 30 years experience as an operations manager and organization development consultant. His practical, hands-on experience in organization change and start-ups was developed during his years with Fortune 500 companies including McCormick & Company, Miller Brewing Company and Frito-Lay, Inc. Wally’s portfolio includes significant achievements. His innovative work as plant manager of the Frito-Lay Casa Grande, AZ startup facility resulted in that facility being named “Plant of the Year” 1985 by Food Engineering Magazine.
A highly skilled facilitator, Wally conducts training and development programs for groups ranging from leadership teams to operations teams. He has worked with both for profit, and non-profit organizations to assist with implementation of large and small projects that help improve organization results. His expertise in building learning organizations, team-based structures, high performance work systems, and large-scale change efforts (Real Time Strategic Change) have been implemented in organizations worldwide.
Known internationally for his ability to facilitate change, he is an excellent coach and is valued for his results
oriented approach to change. He has the ability to work with diverse groups of individuals and can connect with all levels
and types of people. Wally has worked as a change consultant with executive teams, labor/management teams,
and multi-cultural groups in for profit, non-profit, education, and government organizations.
The following are some of his specialties:
Organization Strategy
• Facilitating and teaching client’s use of strategic tools, processes, and skills
• Development of strategic plans and goals that make a transformational difference
Leadership Development
• How to effectively lead diverse organizations
• Managing and leading change- workshops and seminars
• Leadership theory and practical skills
Coaching
• Styles assessments- used to assist clients to develop their goals and the coaching plan
• Follow-up with clients to reinforce, and coach changes they want to make
• On site observation and real time coaching at the client’s site
• Providing feedback, and collecting feedback through 360 assessments
Learn more about Wally on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/in/wallygraham
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Vicky Juvet
Vicky Juvet has been the Chief Financial Officer for the City of Tolleson since 2013. She previously worked as an auditor with the Defense Contract Audit Agency of the federal government, the CFO of Pinal County, the CFO of the Arizona Supreme Court, and the Deputy Finance Director for Maricopa County. Vicky is also a certified trainer of The Happiness Advantage, a research-based positive psychology workshop targeted towards improving happiness and productivity in the workplace, based on the most popular class ever taught at Harvard University. |
Vered Kogan
Vered Kogan is a keynote speaker and transformational coach focused on helping senior leaders and entrepreneurs harness the power of human performance and potential. She is a leading behavioral and mindset expert with a unique ability for helping people release the mental and emotional obstacles that prevent them from achieving their full potential in life and business. Vered holds numerous professional coaching certifications, is a Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Time Line Therapy, Board-certified Hypnotherapist, HeartMath Institute Trainer, and Certified Yoga Nidra Instructor. Over the past 14 years, she has helped hundreds of people adapt more effectively to change.
Vered Kogan is a keynote speaker and transformational coach focused on helping senior leaders and entrepreneurs harness the power of human performance and potential. She is a leading behavioral and mindset expert with a unique ability for helping people release the mental and emotional obstacles that prevent them from achieving their full potential in life and business. Vered holds numerous professional coaching certifications, is a Trainer of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Time Line Therapy, Board-certified Hypnotherapist, HeartMath Institute Trainer, and Certified Yoga Nidra Instructor. Over the past 14 years, she has helped hundreds of people adapt more effectively to change.
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Stacey Lemos Stacey is the Administrative Services Director/Chief Financial Officer for the Town of Oro Valley, which has received recognition for excellence in its budget presentations and financial reporting for multiple years. She has worked in the financial departments of cities and towns throughout Arizona since 1992. |
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Natalie N. Lewis
Natalie N. Lewis has served in local government for almost 23 years. She joined the City of Mesa team in October 2007. For Mesa, Natalie oversees the Arts and Culture Department, City Libraries, Mesa Falcon Field Airport, Code Compliance, and the Community Services Department, which include housing, neighborhood outreach, volunteer, diversity and animal control services. She also assists the City Manager with multiple special programs of high-interest to the Mayor, Council, community and City Management, such as downtown policy, lead negotiation for sale of city-owned Pinal County farms to enable the City to build new spring training facilities, Mayor and Council strategic planning, and cross-sector collaboration to reduce homelessness in Mesa. In addition, she has lead a team of staff for the Mesa K-Ready program, a program underway with strong partnership and assistance of Mesa Public Schools and Mesa United Way. Natalie has earned a Masters in Educational Leadership and a Bachelors in Journalism/Public Relations, both from Northern Arizona University. She is a Board Director of the Arizona City/County Management Association, and has served in a key capacity as part of a City Leadership Initiative with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Harvard-Kennedy School. |
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Cherise Mead
Cherise Mead leads Mesa Public Library’s marketing team and helps manage social media for the City of Mesa. Her personal experience with eating disorder recovery provides perspective on body image-related issues in the workplace. |
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Marisol Perez
Marisol Perez is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Arizona State University. She conducts research on the impact of negative body image on girls and women across the lifespan. She is Editor of Clinician's Research Digest, Board Member for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Academy of Eating Disorders. |
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Dawn Prince
Dawn Prince has been with the City of Peoria for the last 12 years serving in various departments including Human Resources, the City Manager’s office and the Neighborhood and Human Services Department. While serving in Human Resources, Dawn supported the needs of City staff with a wide range of Human Resources issues, holding several Human Resources positions including Senior Human Resources Consultant, Workforce Administrator, and Human Resources Manager. As the HR Manager she oversaw the City’s administration of employee relations, labor relations, HR customer service and recruitment, and was the sole negotiator for the meet and confer process with the City’s four recognized labor groups.
Following her time in Human Resources, Dawn spent 3 years assisting the City Manager with general City Operations and overseeing Mayor and Council Office administration. She also served as the liaison for several community organizations such as the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, the Peoria Arizona Historical Society, the Peoria Unified School District, and the Alliance for Innovation.
Dawn currently serves as the Family and Youth Services Manager in the Neighborhood and Human Services Department. In this role, she oversees all family and youth programs including 24 before and after school programs, 8 summer programs and a 26,000 sq. ft. state of the art Neighborhood Community Center. Dawn is also the chair of the City’s Diversity Committee.
Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in History and Education from Charter Oak State College and a master's degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University.
Dawn Prince has been with the City of Peoria for the last 12 years serving in various departments including Human Resources, the City Manager’s office and the Neighborhood and Human Services Department. While serving in Human Resources, Dawn supported the needs of City staff with a wide range of Human Resources issues, holding several Human Resources positions including Senior Human Resources Consultant, Workforce Administrator, and Human Resources Manager. As the HR Manager she oversaw the City’s administration of employee relations, labor relations, HR customer service and recruitment, and was the sole negotiator for the meet and confer process with the City’s four recognized labor groups.
Following her time in Human Resources, Dawn spent 3 years assisting the City Manager with general City Operations and overseeing Mayor and Council Office administration. She also served as the liaison for several community organizations such as the Peoria Chamber of Commerce, the Peoria Arizona Historical Society, the Peoria Unified School District, and the Alliance for Innovation.
Dawn currently serves as the Family and Youth Services Manager in the Neighborhood and Human Services Department. In this role, she oversees all family and youth programs including 24 before and after school programs, 8 summer programs and a 26,000 sq. ft. state of the art Neighborhood Community Center. Dawn is also the chair of the City’s Diversity Committee.
Dawn holds a bachelor's degree in History and Education from Charter Oak State College and a master's degree in Human Resources Management from Webster University.
Kristie Riester
Prior to launching KR Dynamic Solutions Kristie Riester spent over 20 years in public service working her way up from seasonal lifeguard to Director. Her most recent position was with the Recreation Centers of Sun City West where she served as the Recreation Manager overseeing 4 Recreation Centers, 6 pools, 7 spas, Sports Pavilion including bowling, billiards and darts, Special Events and the Village Store. Prior to that she was the Community Services Director for the City of Maricopa. Her responsibilities included the management and oversight of Parks, Recreation, Library and Special Events. Kristie discovered her passion for community services would lead to a career while at the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree, in Physiology. She has a Master of Administration Degree with an emphasis in Public Management from Northern Arizona University. Her first professional position was with the Town of Oro Valley where she served as the Aquatics Manager. Before moving back to Arizona she served as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of El Centro. Kristie has been a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) since March 2008. She is actively involved with her State and National Associations, currently serving the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as President Elect. She has had the privilege to be an educational presenter at the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association conference as well as the National Recreation and Parks Association conference and National Aquatics Management School. She has also been a guest lecturer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the Parks, Recreation and Leisure Tourism Administration program. She is passionate about Public Service and helping others achieve their goals.
Prior to launching KR Dynamic Solutions Kristie Riester spent over 20 years in public service working her way up from seasonal lifeguard to Director. Her most recent position was with the Recreation Centers of Sun City West where she served as the Recreation Manager overseeing 4 Recreation Centers, 6 pools, 7 spas, Sports Pavilion including bowling, billiards and darts, Special Events and the Village Store. Prior to that she was the Community Services Director for the City of Maricopa. Her responsibilities included the management and oversight of Parks, Recreation, Library and Special Events. Kristie discovered her passion for community services would lead to a career while at the University of Arizona where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree, in Physiology. She has a Master of Administration Degree with an emphasis in Public Management from Northern Arizona University. Her first professional position was with the Town of Oro Valley where she served as the Aquatics Manager. Before moving back to Arizona she served as the Parks and Recreation Director for the City of El Centro. Kristie has been a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional (CPRP) since March 2008. She is actively involved with her State and National Associations, currently serving the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association as President Elect. She has had the privilege to be an educational presenter at the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association conference as well as the National Recreation and Parks Association conference and National Aquatics Management School. She has also been a guest lecturer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the Parks, Recreation and Leisure Tourism Administration program. She is passionate about Public Service and helping others achieve their goals.
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Vicki Rios
Ms. Rios started with the city of Glendale in December of 2013, as the Assistant Finance Director and since April of 2015 she has been serving as the Budget and Finance Director. Prior to working in Glendale, her career included positions at the City of Phoenix, the City of Peoria, and Arizona State University in various roles. In addition, Ms. Rios periodically teaches accounting courses at Glendale Community College and Arizona State University. Ms. Rios holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine and, a Post-baccalaureate Certificate in Accountancy, and M.B.A., from Arizona State University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Government Finance Officers Association of Arizona, the Government Finance Officers Association, and the Arizona Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is also the Chairperson of the Certification Advisory Committee for the Arizona State Board of Accountancy. |
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Mae Sinclair
Mahaliah (nickname “Mae”) Levine Sinclair joined the City of Phoenix in March 2013. She is currently an Organizational Development Consultant in the Human Resources Department. Prior to her employment with the City of Phoenix, Mae worked for a Fortune 500 financial services company for 30 years in their New York, Chicago and Phoenix offices. She held various management positions in Human Resources, Training and Development, and Business development, but her main function for over 20 years was overseeing all corporate training programs. With over 25 years in the training field, her expertise expanded a variety of competency areas such as leadership, performance management, team development, culture and change management, strategic planning and customer service. Mae holds a Bachelor’s Degree in French from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Lake Forest Graduate School in Lake Forest, Illinois. She has also been certified as an executive coach and a master facilitator for Total Quality Management and the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Mae’s commitment to developing people - both personally and professionally - is evident in her enthusiastic style and her passion for inspiring others to achieve their very best. |
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Haylie Smith
Haylie Smith is a recent graduate of Arizona State University’s Master of Public Administration program. For three years, she served as a peer leader in the Body Project at ASU, where she helped people foster a positive body image. For the past year, she has interned with her hometown, the City of Prescott, working in the economic development, community outreach, tourism, and fire departments. Now, after graduation, she will start living out her passion for helping people as a Management Associate I with the City of Mesa. |
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Lindsay M. Smith
Lindsay M. Smith is the Founder of Be Still Consulting, an organization that stands at the intersection of yoga and business. Lindsay offers strategic planning, corporate wellness, individual coaching, and yoga to business leaders to empower them and help them reconnect with their authentic selves. She recently served as Vice President of Brand Evangelism for an employer branding firm where she supported companies such as Charles Schwab, USAA, and GoDaddy to hone, expand, and promote their regional employer brands. Lindsay built an educational division through which she delivered webinars on topics such as employee engagement, retention, and communication as well as several face-to-face events focused on recruitment and best-practice sharing. Lindsay received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and is a certified yoga instructor. When not working with clients or teaching yoga, you can find her traveling, paragliding, or checking things off her bucket list. |
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Samantha Tavares
Bold, creative, and inclusive- those are just a few words to describe Samantha Tavares, a City of Phoenix Public Works Solid Waste Operations Manager who solves resident concerns one trash container at a time. She is a board member for the Phoenix Hispanic Network and the Local Government Hispanic Network. When she is not nerding out at work, she is most likely at the gym, doing some outdoorsy thing, cuddling up with a good book, or on an adventure with her German Shepherd, Korra. Grateful for the amazing life she is living, Sam strives to step through new doors each day and motivates others to do the same. |
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Gina Whicker
Gina is a holistic health coach, owner of Blissfully Balanced Living LLC, and is currently writing her first book, Anchors Away: Lose What Weighs You Down to Find Joy in the Now. She's a graduate of Yoga Pura's 500-hour Yoga Teacher Training and Life Mastery Program and 2018 graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition's Health Coach Program. Through basic yoga principles and nutrition, she coaches clients to rediscover their spark and encourages them to engage with the world differently to find balance in their life. |
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