AZ WLG 2026 Conference: Registration Now Open!
Herizon: Built For This Moment
October 22 and 23, 2026
Mesa Convention Center
263 N Center St.,
Mesa, AZ 85201
For session information, conference fees and registration information, click here.
October 22 and 23, 2026
Mesa Convention Center
263 N Center St.,
Mesa, AZ 85201
For session information, conference fees and registration information, click here.
Women Leading in Excellence Award – Nominations
Now Open
AZ WLG aims to recognize an individual who is committed to the advancement of women into leadership positions within local government in Arizona.
Any active AZ WLG member employed by a governmental agency or affiliated organization is eligible for this award. If you work with a deserving woman, we encourage you to nominate her for this award!
The award recipient will be recognized during the 2026 Conference, presented with an award, and provided with complimentary registration to the conference as well as up to $500 in travel reimbursement.
To view the award purpose, nomination criteria – and details on how to nominate someone please: click here.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026
Please direct any questions regarding the nomination process to [email protected].
Any active AZ WLG member employed by a governmental agency or affiliated organization is eligible for this award. If you work with a deserving woman, we encourage you to nominate her for this award!
The award recipient will be recognized during the 2026 Conference, presented with an award, and provided with complimentary registration to the conference as well as up to $500 in travel reimbursement.
To view the award purpose, nomination criteria – and details on how to nominate someone please: click here.
Nomination Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026
Please direct any questions regarding the nomination process to [email protected].
Navigating Your Next Career Move – Interview Confidence and Working with Executive Recruiters
Practical Insights from an Executive Recruiter and Former Town Manager. The webinar will cover some practical advice, counsel and preparation for engaging with an executive recruiter or directly with the hiring authority including interview strategies that can strengthen confidence and distinguish you as a candidate.
Audience participation is highly encouraged. Come ready with your questions and ideas to shape the conversation!
When:
Wednesday, September 16 | 11:00am - 12:00pm
Where:
Zoom. A link will be sent to all registrants two days before the event.
Cost:
AZ WLG Members: FREE
Non-AZ WLG member: $10
Speaker:
John Kross, Western Regional Manager, Slavin Management Consultants
John Kross is the former Town Manager for Queen Creek, Arizona (one of the Phoenix region suburbs) a position he has held since March 2007 until his retirement in January 2023 (16+ years). In November 2023, John was appointed as the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority's Executive Director and remains in this role on a limited basis. He is also the Western Regional Manager for Slavin Management Consultants, a nationally recognized public sector Executive Search firm with over 900 placements. In Queen Creek, John joined the organization in 1996 as the Community Development Director and served as Assistant Town Manager. In 2007, the Queen Creek Town Council voted unanimously to appoint John as Town Manager, after serving for 9 months as Interim Town Manager. John began his career in both Wisconsin and Arizona in 1989. In Wisconsin, he worked for a private downtown redevelopment firm, and in Arizona he has worked for the cities of Gilbert, Phoenix, Wickenburg, and Queen Creek. Mr. Kross has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ripon College in Wisconsin, a Masters of Public Administration from Arizona State University and is a 2014 graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executive in Local and State Government program. In 2018, John Kross was the recipient of the John J. Debolske Professional Excellence Award – the highest honor granted to an Arizona City or County Manager. John has served on several national, regional and local committees, including the ICMA Conference Committee Co-Chair for the Phoenix national conference. He was Chair of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative its original founding Chair for 15-years, the former Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Management Committee and the Mesa Gateway Airport Senior staff advisory committee. He was recognized in 2022 as 4th in the Nation as “Top Local Government Influencers” by Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) and in 2024 with the "Distinguished Planning Pioneer" by the American Planning Association's Arizona Chapter.
Questions? [email protected]
Audience participation is highly encouraged. Come ready with your questions and ideas to shape the conversation!
When:
Wednesday, September 16 | 11:00am - 12:00pm
Where:
Zoom. A link will be sent to all registrants two days before the event.
Cost:
AZ WLG Members: FREE
Non-AZ WLG member: $10
Speaker:
John Kross, Western Regional Manager, Slavin Management Consultants
John Kross is the former Town Manager for Queen Creek, Arizona (one of the Phoenix region suburbs) a position he has held since March 2007 until his retirement in January 2023 (16+ years). In November 2023, John was appointed as the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority's Executive Director and remains in this role on a limited basis. He is also the Western Regional Manager for Slavin Management Consultants, a nationally recognized public sector Executive Search firm with over 900 placements. In Queen Creek, John joined the organization in 1996 as the Community Development Director and served as Assistant Town Manager. In 2007, the Queen Creek Town Council voted unanimously to appoint John as Town Manager, after serving for 9 months as Interim Town Manager. John began his career in both Wisconsin and Arizona in 1989. In Wisconsin, he worked for a private downtown redevelopment firm, and in Arizona he has worked for the cities of Gilbert, Phoenix, Wickenburg, and Queen Creek. Mr. Kross has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ripon College in Wisconsin, a Masters of Public Administration from Arizona State University and is a 2014 graduate of Harvard University’s Senior Executive in Local and State Government program. In 2018, John Kross was the recipient of the John J. Debolske Professional Excellence Award – the highest honor granted to an Arizona City or County Manager. John has served on several national, regional and local committees, including the ICMA Conference Committee Co-Chair for the Phoenix national conference. He was Chair of the TOPAZ Regional Wireless Cooperative its original founding Chair for 15-years, the former Chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Management Committee and the Mesa Gateway Airport Senior staff advisory committee. He was recognized in 2022 as 4th in the Nation as “Top Local Government Influencers” by Emerging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) and in 2024 with the "Distinguished Planning Pioneer" by the American Planning Association's Arizona Chapter.
Questions? [email protected]
Jane L. Morris Women Leading Government Conference Scholarship Available
The Jane L. Morris Women Leading Government Scholarship recognizes women in local government in honor of Jane L. Morris, former Executive Director/CEO of Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
For details on how to apply for this scholarship, please: click here.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026
Please direct any questions regarding the application process to [email protected].
For details on how to apply for this scholarship, please: click here.
Application Deadline: Friday, September 25, 2026
Please direct any questions regarding the application process to [email protected].
The Membership Year is from July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027
NEW! Anyone who joins or renews and completes their membership--including payment-- by July 1, 2026, will receive a $30 discount on this year's annual conference!
Those that sign up and pay before July 1 will receive a special code reducing the conference fee from $230 to $200 for government leaders when conference registration opens in July.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to pay by credit card, you may select the option to pay by check during with outstanding balances beyond 45 days will be cancelled. Additionally, any balance remaining as of July 1 will NOT be eligible for the $30 discount to this year's annual conference.
Membership Categories:
Existing Government Leader - $70: Those currently serving in or retired from a position in local, county, state or federal government, including interested elected officials. Also included are quasi-government representatives, such as non-profit leaders and higher education faculty,
Business Partners* - $120: For-profit agencies, consultants who serve and/or contract with government.
*Also includes those who do not fall under the Existing Government Leader or Emerging Leaders categories.
Emerging Leaders (Students*) - $30: Students, interns, or other individuals actively seeking a future career and/or advancement in government.
*For full-time students, not working full-time in the public or private sector.
AZ WLG Benefits Include:
Those that sign up and pay before July 1 will receive a special code reducing the conference fee from $230 to $200 for government leaders when conference registration opens in July.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to pay by credit card, you may select the option to pay by check during with outstanding balances beyond 45 days will be cancelled. Additionally, any balance remaining as of July 1 will NOT be eligible for the $30 discount to this year's annual conference.
Membership Categories:
Existing Government Leader - $70: Those currently serving in or retired from a position in local, county, state or federal government, including interested elected officials. Also included are quasi-government representatives, such as non-profit leaders and higher education faculty,
Business Partners* - $120: For-profit agencies, consultants who serve and/or contract with government.
*Also includes those who do not fall under the Existing Government Leader or Emerging Leaders categories.
Emerging Leaders (Students*) - $30: Students, interns, or other individuals actively seeking a future career and/or advancement in government.
*For full-time students, not working full-time in the public or private sector.
AZ WLG Benefits Include:
- Member rates for Annual Conference Registration
- With over 300 attendees at our Annual Conference, membership allows you to receive a reduced rate for your conference registration.
- Continuing Education Webinars
- AZ WLG offers webinar opportunities that provide career-building models that develop leadership skills. - Networking events
- AZ WLG provides in-person training and networking events dedicated to the development of women leaders
The Experience Exchange
Presented by Arizona Women Leading Government in partnership with City of Chandler Connection & Impact Division
Where stories come to life through conversation.
Join us for a unique interactive networking experience designed to connect attendees with inspiring women from diverse career paths through meaningful, small-group conversations.
How It Works
✨ Six storytellers, each sharing their personal career journey
✨ Intimate table discussions
✨ Three interactive sessions with opportunities to rotate between storytellers
✨ Ask questions, gain insights, and build authentic connections
During each session, attendees will listen to a storyteller’s experiences, engage in conversation, and ask questions in a welcoming and supportive environment. After each round, attendees will rotate to a new storyteller and experience another unique perspective. While you won’t hear every story during the scheduled sessions, the conversation doesn’t end there. Stay afterward to connect with additional storytellers over lunch and continue building relationships.
When:
Monday, June 15 | 9:30am - 1:00pm
Where:
ASU Chandler Innovation Center
249 E. Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85255
Cost:
Free Event!
*Lunch is included and this interactive networking event will have limited availability of 60 attendees so please register as soon as possible!
Where stories come to life through conversation.
Join us for a unique interactive networking experience designed to connect attendees with inspiring women from diverse career paths through meaningful, small-group conversations.
How It Works
✨ Six storytellers, each sharing their personal career journey
✨ Intimate table discussions
✨ Three interactive sessions with opportunities to rotate between storytellers
✨ Ask questions, gain insights, and build authentic connections
During each session, attendees will listen to a storyteller’s experiences, engage in conversation, and ask questions in a welcoming and supportive environment. After each round, attendees will rotate to a new storyteller and experience another unique perspective. While you won’t hear every story during the scheduled sessions, the conversation doesn’t end there. Stay afterward to connect with additional storytellers over lunch and continue building relationships.
When:
Monday, June 15 | 9:30am - 1:00pm
Where:
ASU Chandler Innovation Center
249 E. Chicago Street
Chandler, AZ 85255
Cost:
Free Event!
*Lunch is included and this interactive networking event will have limited availability of 60 attendees so please register as soon as possible!
AZWLG Women Leading in Excellence Award
Congratulations Ashley Ahlquist!
Ashley Ahlquist is the first female Emergency Manager in Yavapai County’s history and one of the youngest in Arizona, embodying the perseverance, vision, and leadership recognized by the Women Leading in Excellence Award. Her career reflects both deep experience in public safety and a steadfast commitment to preparedness, training, and the advancement of women in government.
Ashley began her career in public safety telecommunications, serving for nine years, including as a supervisor. During that time, she created and led a tactical dispatch team that deployed to wildfires and SWAT incidents, providing critical communications support in high-stakes environments. Her professionalism and service were widely recognized — her skills were applauded in the apprehension of a sexual assault assailant, and her calls have since been used in training across the country on violence against women. She also spearheaded in-service training initiatives across Northern Arizona and was instrumental in the creation of the Public Safety Dispatch Academy at Yavapai College, where she remains on the adjunct instructor roster, contributing to curriculum development and advancing professional training standards. Her training portfolio includes service as a Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Counselor, FBI Crisis Negotiations training, and certification as an Incident Command Communications Manager.
After moving into emergency management, Ashley’s expertise continued to be sought after. She has presented multiple times at the Arizona APCO/NENA Conference, sharing her insights on alert and warning and on career pathways in public safety and emergency management — bridging her dispatch background with her leadership role in EM.
Her academic preparation is equally strong. Ashley earned a B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management and master’s degrees in Forensic Psychology and Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She completed FEMA’s Advanced Professional Series and the Basic Academy at the Emergency Management Institute and has been accepted into EMI’s Advanced Emergency Management Academy, a competitive program designed to refine and strengthen the nation’s top emergency management leaders.
In April 2022, Ashley stepped into her current role as Yavapai County’s Emergency Manager. Since then, she has modernized and advanced the county’s emergency management program. She spearheaded the revision and design of the County Emergency Operations Plan, ensuring it functions as a living document that guides preparedness, response, and recovery. She also brought together multiple jurisdictions and agencies to create alert and warning templates aligned with best practices, ensuring consistent and effective communication to the public during critical incidents.
Ashley is a tireless advocate for preparedness, implementing proactive, community-centered education campaigns that resonate across generations and populations — from seniors and families to rural residents and individuals with access and functional needs. She has also championed capability-driven exercises and training, ensuring Yavapai County’s readiness efforts are meaningful, measurable, and inclusive of the whole community.
Her leadership has earned recognition statewide and nationally. In Fall 2024, Ashley became a Gold Card credentialed EOC Director through the Arizona Qualification System. That same year, she was elected Board Liaison for the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers. In May 2025, she achieved one of the highest professional honors in the field by becoming a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers.
Today, Ashley leads Yavapai County’s emergency preparedness program with skill and dedication, overseeing countywide emergency planning, coordinating across agencies and jurisdictions, and directing the Emergency Operations Center during crises. She embodies excellence not only through her technical expertise and innovative leadership but also through her commitment to mentorship, training, and preparedness advocacy.
Ashley Ahlquist is a trailblazer and role model for women in public service. Her journey from dispatcher to Emergency Manager reflects determination, service, and leadership at every level. As the first female Emergency Manager in Yavapai County, she has proven that women’s leadership strengthens communities, advances preparedness, and inspires the next generation of leaders.
Ashley began her career in public safety telecommunications, serving for nine years, including as a supervisor. During that time, she created and led a tactical dispatch team that deployed to wildfires and SWAT incidents, providing critical communications support in high-stakes environments. Her professionalism and service were widely recognized — her skills were applauded in the apprehension of a sexual assault assailant, and her calls have since been used in training across the country on violence against women. She also spearheaded in-service training initiatives across Northern Arizona and was instrumental in the creation of the Public Safety Dispatch Academy at Yavapai College, where she remains on the adjunct instructor roster, contributing to curriculum development and advancing professional training standards. Her training portfolio includes service as a Critical Incident Stress Management Peer Counselor, FBI Crisis Negotiations training, and certification as an Incident Command Communications Manager.
After moving into emergency management, Ashley’s expertise continued to be sought after. She has presented multiple times at the Arizona APCO/NENA Conference, sharing her insights on alert and warning and on career pathways in public safety and emergency management — bridging her dispatch background with her leadership role in EM.
Her academic preparation is equally strong. Ashley earned a B.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management and master’s degrees in Forensic Psychology and Leadership from Grand Canyon University. She completed FEMA’s Advanced Professional Series and the Basic Academy at the Emergency Management Institute and has been accepted into EMI’s Advanced Emergency Management Academy, a competitive program designed to refine and strengthen the nation’s top emergency management leaders.
In April 2022, Ashley stepped into her current role as Yavapai County’s Emergency Manager. Since then, she has modernized and advanced the county’s emergency management program. She spearheaded the revision and design of the County Emergency Operations Plan, ensuring it functions as a living document that guides preparedness, response, and recovery. She also brought together multiple jurisdictions and agencies to create alert and warning templates aligned with best practices, ensuring consistent and effective communication to the public during critical incidents.
Ashley is a tireless advocate for preparedness, implementing proactive, community-centered education campaigns that resonate across generations and populations — from seniors and families to rural residents and individuals with access and functional needs. She has also championed capability-driven exercises and training, ensuring Yavapai County’s readiness efforts are meaningful, measurable, and inclusive of the whole community.
Her leadership has earned recognition statewide and nationally. In Fall 2024, Ashley became a Gold Card credentialed EOC Director through the Arizona Qualification System. That same year, she was elected Board Liaison for the Arizona Association of Emergency Managers. In May 2025, she achieved one of the highest professional honors in the field by becoming a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers.
Today, Ashley leads Yavapai County’s emergency preparedness program with skill and dedication, overseeing countywide emergency planning, coordinating across agencies and jurisdictions, and directing the Emergency Operations Center during crises. She embodies excellence not only through her technical expertise and innovative leadership but also through her commitment to mentorship, training, and preparedness advocacy.
Ashley Ahlquist is a trailblazer and role model for women in public service. Her journey from dispatcher to Emergency Manager reflects determination, service, and leadership at every level. As the first female Emergency Manager in Yavapai County, she has proven that women’s leadership strengthens communities, advances preparedness, and inspires the next generation of leaders.
AZ WLG FY 2026 Membership
Interested in membership? AZ WLG FY 2026 Memberships are good from July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026.
For information about AZ WLG Membership benefits & categories please, click here.
For information about AZ WLG Membership benefits & categories please, click here.
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