May 2024
Assistant Director's Corner
Dana Close
Assistant Director
Congratulations Class 38, Best in State!
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Franciscan Renewal Center, Class 38 presented four outstanding Project Lead It Forward presentations, then graduated and celebrated it all by dancing the night away.
I would like to take this opportunity to share a very sincere and heartfelt thank you to this year’s Day Chairs. The reason that our class days are so interesting and robust is because these people give of their time, talent, and resources to give back to Scottsdale Leadership. We can’t thank them enough. They are:
Two Day Retreat: Kristi Staab
Welcome Day: Dr. Merle Reipe
History Day: Joan Fudala, Jona Davis, Stephanie Tippett
City Government Day: Robert Fisher, Owen Ellington, Linda Milhaven
Diversity Day: Todd Larson, Kris Cano
Sustainability Day: Laurie LaPat-Polasko, Natalie Chrisman Lazarr, Kristen Parrish
Technology Day: Kevin Maxwell
Education Day: Shelley Hummon, Bronwyn Maxwell
Economic Development Day: Brian Bednar, Ryan Rybarczyk, Sam Campana
Public Safety-Fire: Adam Hoster, Brian Joseph, Kristi Gagnon
Public Safety-Police: Chris Coffee, Nick Alamshaw, Jill Boehm
Arts Day: Natalie Marsh, David Itzkowitz, Cece Cole, Erin Krivanek
Healthcare Day: Liz Kaplan, Kara Greene, Roxanne Flynn
Human Services Day: Cindi Eberhardt, Raoul Zubia
Leadership Emerging Day: Marie Reed, Kelly Laipply
Together we shared those, 'I had no idea that was even there' moments, and learned about the unique leadership skills and dedication that it took to build our community, and learned more about ourselves.
38
Class 38 Representative
Dan Newhart
The Class Representative Crown has officially been passed on. You wear it well, Dan!
Class 38
Project Lead It Forward
Projects
As is part of the Scottsdale Leadership Program class curriculum each year, Class 38 members were divided into four PLIF teams with each team was challenged to use their leadership skills and community connections to create something special for four uniquely deserving nonprofit organizations. This year all four project teams worked on issues facing those who are unsheltered.
These are Class 38's PLIF Projects:
Save the Family
Team Save the Family: Quita Remick, Thomesa Lydon, ShaRon Rea, John Campbell, Sarah Beloshapka, Gina Zoulek, Lindsay Vanegas, Steve Kelly, Dale Shafer, Angelica Backalukas, Austin Grizzell, Chris Brown
Team Save the Family focused on revitalizing an existing computer lab, including replacing the outdated computers, obtaining a new printer, and upgrading furniture. They also repainted the facility, giving it a bright and fresh new look as well as a new printer and games and places for kids to play and read.
Before:
Computer Room
After: Revitalized Computer Room !
Before:
Office
After: Beautiful Reading and Children's Area !
Community House
Team Community House: Christian Sanft, Anthony Washington, Melanie White, Albert Johnson, Stacey Gross, Eric Leshinskie, Steve Johnson, Donna Tew, Bryce Buchanan, Rachel Tarman, Jill Boehm
The goal for Team Community House was to provide a strategic plan to help Community House with their direction and goals for the future. They put in a tremendous effort to repurpose a room for supplies and salon services making this room user friendly for volunteers. They also conducted a fundraiser event to help provide additional needed supplies for the Community House.
Before:
Storage Room
After: Organization Galore!
Before:
Area for
Future Salon
After:
Beautiful
Salon!
Family Promise
Team Family Promise: Kristi Gagnon, Teresa Milner, Mike Snyder, Sara Johnson, Dan Newhart, Kelly Adams, Lauren Dessis, Dave Masters, Anna Oliver, Kelsey Lamper, Aaron Howard
Team Family Promise transformed an underused outdoor area into a vibrant social lounge for families supported by Family Promise. Through excavation, installation of sport court flooring and artificial turf, as well as the addition of seating and yard games, the space now fosters community engagement and fellowship for families and children of all ages, providing a welcoming environment for shared experiences.
Before:
Underutilized
area for future play
Before:
Area for future
landscaping
with shade trees
After: A family gathering area with a sport court, games, bikes, seating areas,
shade trees, landscaping and basketball!
UMOM
Team UMOM: Jordan Woods, Michelle Myers, Scott Beilke, Rachel Jensen, Ryan Sheade, Betty Hancock, Kristy Visconti, Kelly Kunst, Dan Ishac, Anthony Caracciolo, not pictured: Kimberley Valentine
Team UMOM set out to overhaul the current warehouse inventory management by implementing an electronic inventory management system along with significant reorganization and culling of existing warehouse goods. Additionally, they took the original “clothing closet” and made it more functional and appealing for UMOM clients. This involved evaluating additional spaces, determining construction requirements and redesigning the retail experience.
Before:
Clothing closet with
no organization, old wiring, leaking ceiling, and rotten floor
Before:
12,000 sq. ft. warehouse with no inventory system and items spilling out of the isles
After: Beautiful clothing closet with pleasant shopping experience, new paint & flooring
After: Completely restructured 12,000 sq. ft. warehouse with state-of-the-art inventory system
Thank You, PLIF Team Advisors!
Shout Out to These Five PLIF Advisors
Sue Gifford led the way in the roll of senior advisor. She has been the recipient of one of our projects, she worked on a project while in Class 33 and then became an advisor to several teams. Sue reminds us that we need to, “appreciate what went well, and think of what could be even better if…” Thank you, Sue!
This year our advisors were: Roxanne Flynn, Class 37, helping the Family Promise team to the finish line; Jenn Stockhill, Class 37, was on the UMOM team, Mike Vreeland, Class 37, worked with Community House; and Sara Solem, Class 36, was there for Save the Family.
All of that hard work added up to:
3,195 Combined Volunteer Hours
$72,990 Dollars Raised
$23,890 In-Kind Donations of Goods and Services
OUTSTANDING, Class 38!
A very special
Thank You
to Austin Bloom of Class 35 and
The Austin Bloom Real Estate Group
for sponsoring our graduation party!
The New LeaderSHOP is Here!
We have great new merchandise in our LeaderSHOP! Check it out. You can even pick items that can be customized with your class number. AND, if you take a photo of yourself in your new swag and send it to Dana Close you can be in our new promotional video!
Not To Be Outdone....
by any professional models, our very own Albert Johnson, Class 38 takes the runway modeling some of the stylin' LeaderSHOP SL fashion. Looking good Albert!!!
This month's edition of Branching Out is brought to you thanks to our community partner
