May 2026
President's Corner
"Thank you for the opportunity to serve this incredible organization and community."
Merle Riepe
Scottsdale Leadership
Board President
2025-2026
As I conclude my term as Board President of Scottsdale Leadership, I find myself reflecting on a year defined by momentum, innovation, and a willingness to thoughtfully challenge ourselves in pursuit of continued growth.
This year, our Board embraced new ideas, explored different approaches, and implemented meaningful improvements that strengthened both our organization and our long-term sustainability. Those efforts not only advanced our mission but also contributed to one of the strongest financial years in recent organizational history.
Throughout the year, our Board remained focused not only on sustaining the strong foundation already in place, but on continuing to evolve how we serve Scottsdale and the leaders who call this community home. From strengthening partnerships and supporting program excellence to expanding the ways our alumni, staff, and broader community engage with Scottsdale Leadership, I am proud of the progress we made together.
More importantly, I am proud of the people behind that progress. Serving alongside this Board has been a privilege. Their dedication, thoughtfulness, and willingness to lead through both challenge and change made this year exceptionally rewarding. I often referred to this group as the “best board ever,” carrying forward a long-standing Scottsdale Leadership tradition in which each class aspires to leave a meaningful mark on the organization. In many ways, that spirit reflects what makes this community special – a shared commitment to building something stronger for those who follow.
I also want to recognize the Scottsdale Leadership staff, whose dedication, adaptability, and leadership made so much of this year’s success possible. Their commitment to the mission and willingness to embrace new ideas alongside the Board were instrumental in everything we accomplished this year.
I am excited to officially pass the torch to Jim Kollenda as our next Board President. Jim brings tremendous leadership, perspective, and care for this organization, and I have complete confidence in where Scottsdale Leadership will go under his guidance.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve this incredible organization and community. Scottsdale Leadership continues to play an important role in shaping thoughtful, connected, and engaged leaders, and I am grateful to have been a small part of that work.
Merle
Class 40 is an extraordinary group of leaders whose impact on Scottsdale Leadership has already been deeply felt.
From Dana Close
Assistant Director
A milestone year for Scottsdale Leadership and a year of milestones for this year's 40th graduating class!
Congratulations
Graduating Class 40 !
Throughout the year, Class 40 members consistently demonstrated not only professionalism and engagement, but also generosity, creativity, and an authentic commitment to servant leadership. Time and again, they found thoughtful ways to support one another and the community — from sponsoring a chair at Greasepaint Theater, to showing up in force for classmates’ project workdays and fundraisers, offering their time, energy, and a helping hand to help ensure each other’s success. Look for them on boards from Partners for Paiute to NOAH and beyond! Their community commitment continued all the way to graduation where the class came with another large donation for the closet at The Family Advocacy Center. Class 40 has set a remarkable example of leadership rooted in collaboration, compassion, and action, and we are fortunate to welcome them into the Scottsdale Leadership family.
The 2026
Project Lead It Forward Showcase
Highlighted Five Amazing Team Projects
WALTER HIVE TEAM
Walter Hive–Kids in Focus Digital Media Lab
At Walter Hive the mission is to build resilience, promote healing and foster creativity through the arts, at no cost, for youth in our community who are overcoming a variety of challenges. Team Busy Bees was tasked with creating a Digital Design Lab that provides youth access to technology through hands-on workshops, and training, which provides pathways to potential careers. The lab this team built would be the envy of any professional designer and creates endless possibilities for those who will now have access to it.
SCOTTSDALE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER TEAM
Scottsdale Family Resource Center
Play Space
The Scottsdale Family Resource Center, also known as the FRC, exists to ensure that families with children from 0 to age 5 have a welcoming, safe, and accessible community hub where they can find information, resources, and services that support their children’s healthy development - and their own well-being. The FRC Play Space project converted cactus-and-rock landscape outside the Scottsdale Family Resource Center into a safe, enclosed outdoor play area designed specifically for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
CATTLE TRACK ART & PRESERVATION TEAM
Cattle Track Art and Preservation
Introduction to the Community Event
The Cattle Track team lovingly referred to as NLSOBs (no lazy sons of b’s!) and boy was that an appropriate name because there was no room for THAT. This team brought over 12 hundred guests to Scottsdale’s best kept secret…CATTLE TRACK ARTS COMPOUND! They toured over 500 attendees over a two-day period and told the world about all the exciting new developments at this historic art compound…AND left them with a guide for how to continue these events into the future. An interesting side note: the team logged their steps while producing this wonderful event, and they added up to 412,000 combined steps! That is equivalent of walking from Scottsdale to the Grand Canyon South Rim! Amazing!!!
HORSES HELP TEAM
Horses Help
'Reins of Impact' Zen Garden
Horses Help’s mission is to create life-changing connections between horses and people. The premier accredited center provides therapeutic and recreational programs serving individuals with special needs, and at-risk populations such military veterans, through the unique bond between humans and horses. This project team built a functional, grounded space for Horses Help attendees… a place designed for calm, focus, and meaningful use…a place that is a sanctuary that allows attendees to strip away distractions and relax, reflect, and reset.
FIRST-EVER ALUMNI TEAM!
Lexie's Ranch Community Garden
This is the first PLIF project of its kind! It was an opportunity to bring alumni together to work on something meaningful. Lexie’s Ranch founders have a vision of a magical, one-of-a-kind space, created specifically for families raising special needs kids. It now includes miniature cows and horses. It is growing to include a spacious park, and a barn filled with other wonderful animals. Together, our alumni built Lexie’s Community Garden which will be part of this magical place.
Congratulations Class 40 and our first-ever Alumni Team
for the community impact you have created through extraordinary teamwork on your 2026 Scottsdale Leadership PLIF Projects!
PRESENTED AT OUR 2026 GRADUATION CELEBRATION
Congratulations
Andrea Robertson ~
award recipient of the
Gary Shapiro Legacy of Impact Award
The award celebrates an organization or person making a significant difference to the Scottsdale community. Scottsdale Alumna Andrea Robertson, Class 30 was honored with the award for her incredible work as the Founder of Lexie's Voice, a non-profit founded in 2016 which has made significant contributions to the special needs community, as well as her work serving on the boards of the National Charity League and Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, and numerous other community organizations.
A big thank you to Lexie's Voice for being the Class Day Sponsor of Human Services Day – See the class blog below!
Human Services Day
Written by:
By: Jessica Rapp, Class 40
The Scottsdale Leadership Human Services Day began at Vista del Camino, where the group learned about the essential support offered through the Career Center. Staff shared how they help residents build skills, prepare for employment, and connect to opportunities that promote long‑term stability.
Next, the class visited the Vista del Camino Food Bank and jumped into a hands‑on service activity. Participants packed Brown Bag food bags, gaining insight into how the program provides consistent nutrition support to seniors and other residents in need.
The group then traveled to the Paiute Neighborhood Center, where they explored the programs and resources available to families and community members. The group was also to see the Family Resource Center’s PLIF project.
From there, the class visited the Family Advocacy Center as its own dedicated stop to learn about the critical services supporting victims of abuse and trauma. This was followed by a separate visit with Adapted Services, where participants learned how the city creates inclusive programs that support individuals with disabilities. Partners for Paiute added a fun treat by providing complimentary ice cream, giving everyone a chance to relax and connect.
The day wrapped up at the Granite Reef Senior Center with a guided tour and an overview of the wide range of services available to older adults. Staff highlighted recreational activities, social services, and resources that help seniors remain active, supported, and engaged in the Scottsdale community.
