​2024 Arizona Women Leading Government 

President:
​Brandie Barrett, Deputy Public Works Director, Phoenix

Brandie Ishcomer Barrett currently serves as a Deputy Public Works Director for the City of Phoenix.  In this role, Brandie manages the Administrative Services Division consisting of the department’s fiscal, procurement, information technology, communications, environmental quality, badging and alarm services, and field invoice management services, with management responsibility for a $315 million operating budget, a $172 million five-year capital improvement program and for $427M in procurement administration.  In her prior role, she established the Community and Government Relations Division for the city’s Solid Waste Services division, and was responsible for providing cross-disciplinary leadership, and implementing circular economy and economic development initiatives in support of the city’s Reimagine Phoenix Initiative to improve diversion from landfill and achieve zero waste by 2050.  
 
During her 18+ years of local government experience, Brandie has managed a multitude of high-profile activities, including the city’s fleet of 7,500 pieces of equipment, which was recognized with a Government Green Fleet award. She has presented policy alternatives to the City Council on a diverse range of citywide programs and issues.  Brandie holds a Master of Arts from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Arts from Mount Holyoke College.  ​

Incoming President:
​Andrea Alicoate, Assistant to the City Manager, Director of Diversity & Engagement, Mesa

Andrea Alicoate has dedicated over fifteen years to driving impactful change in the City of Mesa, AZ, where she currently serves as Assistant to the City Manager. A trailblazer in public service, Andrea has spearheaded transformative initiatives as the City's Director of Diversity & Engagement and leads efforts for Employee Engagement and Education & Workforce Development. Passionate about collaboration and innovation, Andrea is committed to empowering teams, elevating diverse voices, and ensuring community perspectives shape the City’s future. Her leadership shines while serving on several boards on national and regional platforms, and by supporting the resource groups in her organization. 
​An East Valley native, Andrea holds a BA from Arizona State University, an MPA from California State University Northridge, and completed an executive program at Yale University blending academic excellence with a desire for meaningful community impact. She enjoys raising her son alongside her husband in the very community she is dedicated to serving.

Past President:
​Kirsten Lennon, Financial Services Director, Cottonwood

Working for the City of Cottonwood for over 20 years in the Finance department doing everything from Accounts Payable and benefits to being the Finance Director I have had great support in my growth and development as a leader. During these years not only did I work and raise my four children but I also went back to college and earned a Bachelors in Business Administration. I joined the WLG board not only to network with other great women leaders in Government but to hopefully help emerging women leaders. We all need a good support system and tools to improve ourselves to be the best we can be! Being on the board gives me the opportunity to lift other women up and let them realize their full potential. ​ ​

Directors:

Sue Breding, Communications Director, Glendale

Sue Breding is the Communications Director for the City of Glendale, AZ. In 2023, she was selected as the prestigious national 'Communicator of the Year’ by 3CMA, which represents all city and county communications professionals across the country.  She was one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s  ‘Outstanding Women in Business’ honorees and PHOENIX Magazine highlighted her with a 'Best Marketing Idea' write-up in its 'Best of the Valley' edition for her March 2023 press conference renaming Glendale AZ to Swift City for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour kickoff concerts. 
 
A former TV news reporter, she has been a longtime, dedicated member of the Board of Governors for the Rocky Mountain Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). After finding the conferences held by Arizona Women Leading Government to be extremely valuable, she is honored to now serve on the Board of Directors
 
In 2023, she provided visionary leadership for Super Bowl LVII played at State Farm Stadium, overseeing public affairs for the city of Glendale and serving on the AZ Super Bowl Host Committee’s communications council. She currently oversees communications for the city of Glendale for the NCAA Men’s Final Four Basketball Championship, which will be held in 2024 in Glendale.

Elaina Cano, Court Administrator, City Court, Surprise

Elaina Cano currently serves as the Court Administrator for the City of Surprise, bringing 19 years of court experience and expertise to her role. With an Associate’s in Legal Studies, a Bachelor’s in Business Management, and a Master’s in Public Administration, she is well-equipped for her responsibilities. 

Elaina has managed pivotal departments and courts within the Arizona Maricopa County Superior Court, including oversight of the Self-Service and Domestic Violence Center, Probate and Mental Health Courts, and the Court Interpreters and Translations Services Department. Notably, during her tenure in the Probate Court, the Probate Court garnered 7 awards for reengineering court practices and program development. Moreover, Elaina served as the project manager for the Mental Health courtroom build-out in the Annex Hospital for Valleywise Health. 

She is a member of various professional associations, including the National Association for Court Management (NACM), National Center for State Courts (NCSC), Arizona Limited Jurisdiction Court Administrators Association (AZLJCAA), Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), and Employment Law Group (HRS). 

Elaina has also contributed content to organizations such as the National Association for Court Management, the Adult Guardianship Guide, and the Arizona Supreme Court's Guide to Hiring a Court Interpreter. 

Beyond her professional commitments, she actively mentors young women, supporting them in achieving their career aspirations. Being a member of the AZWLG Board is a privilege for her, as she values the chance to serve with women leaders across Arizona.

Angèle Ozoemelam, Director, Business Services Department, Tucson

Angèle  Ozoemelam is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), with experience in public accounting. She holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s in Accounting, with Latin honors. 
 
She is a seasoned government finance professional with over 30 years of budgeting, auditing, and accounting experience and has held executive level positions in higher education and government. Angele served on the Pinal County Audit Committee from 2020 to 2023 and serves as a budget reviewer for the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). 
 
Angele currently serves as the Director for the City of Tucson Business Services Department. In her role she provides leadership, direction and guidance in financial reporting, budgeting, risk and grants management, and procurement. 
   
Angele proudly identifies herself as a product of mentorship from a successful government finance professional and is excited to add her voice to the leadership of the AZWLG. She looks forward to working with the team to promote “excellence in government financial management through leadership, education, and communication”, and to develop strong and knowledgeable leaders for tomorrow. ​

Dr. Annette Padilla, Teacher, Mesa Public Schools; Consultant, Interim Public Management

Dr. Padilla is an associate and consultant with Interim Public Management (IPM), having served on several boards of directors, planning conferences, and evaluating education to advance women and girls.  Her 20+ years of public service includes local government, non-profits, as well as consulting with counties state-wide in California.  She is affiliated with 13 US Federal Departments (Justice, Education, Substance and Mental Health Services Administration, Indian Health Service, Administration for Native Americans, etc.) where she serves as a panel facilitator, grant reviewer, and project consultant in strategic planning.  With a PhD in Public Policy and Administration, focused on Leadership and Management from Walden University, Annette’s research furthered California County Strategic Planning for Substance Abuse departments. By training MBAs in Vietnam and teaching business at Jiangnan University in China she also assisted the City of Wuxi’s Police Transportation Dept. with technical language.  She also holds a Master Degree in Public Health and a Bachelor Degree in Community Health Education from San Diego State University. Her work in Arizona includes serving as a Department Head in the Town of Guadalupe where she strengthened contracts with United Food Bank, Maricopa County Human Services, Community Bridges, Inc. and Chicanos Por la Causa serving homeless families. Annette is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA), Phoenix Area ASU Alumnae Chapter (Delta Xi) of Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority, and the AZ WLG Board.  She enjoys meeting up in person and networking to support other female colleagues advancing as leaders in Arizona. Her free time is spent mountain biking on our beautiful Arizona trails and lap swimming in local pools.

Kristie Riester, CEO, KR Dynamic Solutions

Kristie founded KR Dynamic Solutions in 2018 because she's passionate about helping others succeed. Her drive is to inspire, educate, and motivate organizations and individuals to reach their goals. Prior to launching KR Dynamic Solutions, she spent over 20 years in public service working her way up from seasonal lifeguard to Director. In addition to being CEO of KR Dynamic Solutions, Kristie is serving as Executive Director for the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code and Utilities Customer Service Manager for the Town of Queen Creek. 

Kristie discovered her passion for public service would lead to a career while at the University of Arizona, where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in physiology. She also has a Master of Administration Degree with an emphasis in Public Management from Northern Arizona University. 

Kristie is actively involved with her State and National Associations, currently serving on the Arizona Women Leading Government Board and as Past President for the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association. 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 been a guest lecturer at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo for the Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Tourism Administration program and spoke at the Arizona State University SPARK conference. She has presented at the Arizona Women Leading Government Conference and the Blooming Your Business Conference for entrepreneurs. She is passionate about public service and helping women achieve their career goals.  
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Kristie is an avid reader and loves being in and around water. She lives in Maricopa, Arizona with her husband Troy and their daughter Jillian where you can find them enjoying a hot Arizona day in their backyard pool oasis.

Kelly Whittemore, Deputy City Attorney, Mesa

​​Kelly Whittemore is a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Mesa.  Since becoming an attorney in 2005, she has spent the majority of her legal career holding progressively more responsible positions in local government law departments in both Texas and Arizona.  For the City of Dallas, she served as a community prosecutor focused on quality-of-life issues, ensuring citizens had a safe place to live through the enforcement of building codes and nuisance laws.  Kelly joined the Mesa City Attorney’s Office in 2011.  During her time with Mesa, she has had the rare opportunity to work as both an administrative and land use attorney, allowing her to build a well-rounded view of the issues facing local government.  In her current role, she serves as the supervising attorney over the Land Use/Police Division.  Kelly is an avid weightlifter and self-proclaimed bookworm, who can be found spending her weekends with her husband, family, and friends.  As a member of the AZWLG Board, she is honored to have the opportunity to be of service to women leaders throughout Arizona.