​2021 Arizona Women Leading Government 

President: Brandi Flores, Senior Financial Management Analyst, City of Surprise ​

Brandi Flores is a Senior Financial Management Analyst with the City of Surprise.  She has 14 years of experience in governmental finance specializing in budgeting, auditing, and fiscal policy.  She is passionate about providing guidance and support for the responsible stewardship of public resources.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in global business from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration from Ottawa University both with an emphasis in finance.  Her next goal is to earn designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO).  Brandi is actively engaged in industry associations that provide guidance in the area of governmental finance and leadership including the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the Arizona State University School of Public Affairs Advisory Council, Arizona Women Leading Government (AZWLG), and the Women in Public Finance Network (WPFN).  Notable roles include serving as President for both GFOAz and AZWLG.  Brandi lives in Surprise with her husband and five beautiful children.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, camping, and serving as a youth leader at her local church.   

Past President: Natalie Lewis, Deputy City Manager, City of Mesa ​

​Ms. Lewis has served in government-related leadership roles for 24+ years.  At the City of Mesa, she oversees six service-related departments in Mesa:  Development Services, Arts and Culture, Libraries, Community Services (Housing, Neighborhood Outreach, Diversity, Volunteers, Animal Control), Education and Workforce Development, and Code Compliance, which together includes 340+ employees and with combined budgets of approx. $45M.  She also leads high-priority initiatives in Mesa, including local and regional work to address homelessness within an inter-connected system of services and response; distribution and management of  federal funding during the pandemic for rent and utility assistance and homeless programs; and she was lead negotiator to sell 12,000 acres of Pinal County farm land, which has enabled Mesa to build a new Cubs Spring Training stadium/facility.  Ms. Lewis is the President for the Arizona City-County Management Association and is immediate past-president for Women Leading Government.  She resides in the Valley with her husband of 31 years and has two grown sons.  

Directors:

Erika Coombs, Senior Vice President, Piper Sandler & Co. ​

​Erika Coombs is a financial services expert who specializes in raising capital and presenting ideas and solutions to municipalities. She is a Senior Vice President at Piper Sandler & Co. and has been providing underwriting, financial advisory, placement agent and consulting services to school districts and municipal governments since 2004. She has been involved in over 80 elections for school districts in Arizona and managed more than 200 financings for clients. She is an identical twin, fifth generation Arizona native and her favorite person calls her “Mommy” or “Mama.” Making a difference in the community is important to Erika. She currently shares her time and talents with the following organizations: Arizona Women Leading Government, Ellevate Phoenix, GFOA Women Public Finance Network (WPFN), the Mountain Region Chapter of Women in Public Finance, National Federation of Municipal Analysts MARMOT Society, and Scottsdale Arts. She is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Phoenix, Valley Leadership Class 38 and Scottsdale Leadership Class 32. She has her Master’s from Arizona State University.

Kirsten Lennon, Financial Services Director, City of 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. 

Jessica Rothschild, Customer Service Administrator, City of Phoenix Police Department

Jessica joined the City of Phoenix Police Department in 2006 as a temporary employee in a newly created program section of the Code Enforcement Unit. She is an Idaho native and prior to joining the City of Phoenix she worked as a sheriff’s department patrol deputy in southern Idaho. 

During her 15 years of service with the City of Phoenix, Jessica has served in the police department and in the City Manager’s Office. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University.
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Jessica is a current Arizona Women Leading Government board member and currently leads the Public Records and Services Unit, a large group made up of sworn and professional staff in the police department. When she is not consumed by a work project, she is likely working on a home DIY project or exploring the hiking trails on the mountains close to her home. ​

Kellee Salas, Intergovernmental Liaison, Maricopa County Department of Transportation

Kellee Salas currently serves as the Regional Intergovernmental Liaison for the Maricopa County Department of Transportation and is one of the founding Board members of Women Leading Government. With over 20 years of experience working in various levels and departments in public agencies across the valley, she’s dedicated to helping and encouraging women to seek positions in the public sector and retain them. To invest in professional growth is a profitable investment in yourself. It may very well be the best investment you will ever make. She believes the effort you put into consistently investing in yourself will play a significant role in determining the quality of your life now and in the future. 
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Active in the community for many years, Kellee has served as the vice-president of Desert Foothills Middle School’s PTO and is a member of  Arizona ICMA, Diversity Leadership Alliance, and Advancing Women in Transportation (WTS).
A sports enthusiast throughout her life, Kellee enjoys playing basketball and golf and spending time with her husband, Christopher, and their three beautiful children, Taelor, Jaedin, and Landin.

Michelle Woytenko, Field Operations Director, City of Glendale ​

Michelle Woytenko joined the City of Glendale in 2015 and serves as Director of Field Operations. In this role, she connects, strengthens, and builds trust between and among staff, citizens and adjacent communities focusing on the community experience. Michelle has over 30 years of public and private sector experience.
An avid supporter of staff development, Michelle created a program to mentor groups at a variety of professional levels.  
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Michelle received her Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees from the University of Alberta, and has professional experience in many countries bring a global perspective to local government.