Board of Directors – Board Developer Foundation

Meet our Board

David Tierney
Chairman of the Board, Sacks & Tierney, Attorney

David Tierney is a litigator practicing primarily in Commercial Construction Law, as well as a mediator / arbitrator. He has been a partner in the Phoenix firm of Sacks Tierney P.A. since 1974. He serves on numerous boards and wants to assist non-profits with their governance tasks - so as to maximize the resources to carry out their missions.

Rick DeGraw
Board Member

Rick recently retired from Copperppint Mutual Insurance Company after serving as their Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer. He has received numerous recognitions for his service to our state and local communities. His current community board service includes: American Heart Association: Go Red for Women Chair Arizona Chamber Foundation Arizona Firefighters & Emergency Paramedics Memorial Commission, Chair Arizona Fallen Firefighters Memorial, Chair Board Developer Foundation Grand Canyon Institute Board Speak Out Arizona CoChair

Ed Zito
Board Member

Ed Zito retired March 31, 2018 as the President of Alliance Bank of Arizona (a division of
Western Alliance Bancorp — WAL on the NYSE).

Mr. Zito has over 30 years of commercial and investment banking and public finance
experience. He served as Regional President and as a member of the board of directors for
Imperial Bank Arizona. Prior to that, he served in senior executive positions with First Interstate
Bank, including President of First Interstate Equity Corporation, an SBIC entity.

Currently, Zito is on the board of directors of Trinity Capital Inc., a venture debt provider (BDC)
to the emerging growth industry. He serves on the board of advisors to Adopt Technologies, a
cloud computing and information technology service provider, and Redirect Health, a
healthcare company. Zito is the Chairman of the board of a strategic management consulting
firm i.e. The Board Developer.
Mr. Zito has worked extensively on economic development and capital formation in Arizona,
having chaired the Economic Development Committee of the Arizona Chamber of
Commerce and on the board of directors and executive committee of the Arizona Chamber of
Commerce. He also served as the initial Vice Chairman of Arizona Economic Resource
Organization, a Governor-mandated, public-private partnership formed to lead Arizona's
economic development initiatives.

Mr. Zito served on the board of directors and executive committee of Downtown Phoenix Inc.
and on the Flinn Foundation Bioscience Steering Committee as well as a member of the Canada
Arizona Business Council.

Ed Zito holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern
California, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Rutgers University.

Ed Zito is a member of the Phoenix Country Club and co-chairs the board of directors of Social
Venture Partners Arizona.

Kristen French
Board Member

Kristen started her career as an auditor, but ultimately found her niche working alongside clients. She helps business owners and individuals navigate changes during the growth phase and identify opportunities. Kristen spent the last few years building the Upworth team - focused on protecting a culture that promotes a collaborative team approach, fosters innovative ideas and adheres to the hightest professional and performance standards. Kristen was born and raised in Arizona, graduated from the University of Arizona with a major in Finance and Accounting, and plans to live in Phoenix forever. While Kristen enjoys her professional career as a CPA, she finds the most joy spending time with her husband, David, and their three kids

Maura Goldsberry
Board Member

Working as a nonprofit consultant specializing in infrastructure and capacity building for start-up and growth phase organizations.

Served on Steering Committee of new initiative to generate interest in education in Arizona.
Designed and co-chaired a new annual conference for Arizona education stakeholders.
Served as board treasurer and co-chair of the development committee for the Camp Colley Foundation.
Designed and implemented a donor management system and building a long-term fundraising program for a domestic violence education organization.
Developed a community leadership training program for a training organization.
Developed systems and structure to support advocacy efforts for a 501(c)(4) organization.
Implemented a website content management system for a small foundation that would allow prospective grant applicants to quickly and efficiently use the website to evaluate the appropriateness of applying for a grant.
Implemented a membership management system for an organization of outstanding women leaders.

Sentari Minor
Board Member

Sentari M. Minor, Director of Partner Engagement & Education at Social Venture Partners Arizona (SVPAZ), facilitates the engagement of local philanthropists and activates community leaders to drive social change in the Valley. Prior to SVPAZ, Mr. Minor oversaw the corporate and foundation relations and major campaigns for the Arizona Humane Society, Arizona’s largest animal welfare organization. He started his career in the nonprofit sector at the Rodel Foundation where he managed communications, events, and special projects under the direction of the President & CEO. A Phoenix native, Mr. Minor continued his education in the Midwest and is an alumnus of DePauw University located in Greencastle, Indiana where he studied English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. He is also a member of Class IV of the American Express Leadership Academy through the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Nonprofit Innovation. With a strong background and expertise in fundraising, communications, and strategic planning, Mr. Minor supports and advises a number of Valley organizations and serves on the board of directors for a diverse set of nonprofits both locally (Phoenix) and nationally. Passionate about strengthening social ventures to equip them to make a bigger impact, Mr. Minor speaks nationwide on board governance, nonprofit leadership and the concepts of venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and capacity building. Outside of his hectic schedule, he enjoys fitness, reading, and spending time with his friends and family.

Andrea Moreno
Board Member

Andrea was named Manager of Community Outreach in 2018 for Salt River Project (SRP), a $2.8 billion public power utility providing power and water services to more than 2 million Arizona residents. She has been with the company for over 18 years during which time she has held several positions throughout the company.

Andrea’s career with SRP began in Customer Services and then transitioned to Public Affairs. Prior to managing the Community Outreach department, Andrea was a Community Outreach Representative with responsibility for SRP’s corporate contribution program where she managed a $3.6 million in charitable grants to local Arizona nonprofit organizations. As manager of Community Outreach, Andrea is responsible for strategically directing a $5.7 million budget for SRP programs in the following areas: philanthropy, volunteerism, education services, SRP heritage and water and electric safety outreach.

She stays active in the community, currently serving on the Board of Directors for Valle del Sol as Board Vice Chair as well as the Hispanic Women’s Corporation. She is also the former Chair of the Phoenix Women’s Commission, Board member of Dress for Success Phoenix, Valley Leadership, Mujer, Inc., Chair of SRP’s Hispanic Employee Interest Group, and Chair of city of Phoenix International Women’s Day Steering Committee. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with a minor in Marketing. In addition is a graduate of the Hispanic Leadership Institute West and Valley Leadership Class 31. In 2012 Andrea was named one of the 40 Hispanic Leaders Under 40 in recognition for her service to the community.

Amanda Vega
Board Member

Amanda Vega began her career at AOL as a chat moderator over 20 years ago. During her tenure at AOL she directly helped to develop and rollout Instant Messenger and Love@AOL (now Match.com’s technology.) Amanda has an MBA from Columbia University, and known industry-wide as an insightful and honest speaker that doesn’t talk AT people, but instead talks with them. After selling her second interactive agency to Ogilvy in 1999, she moved to New York City and opened Amanda Vega Consulting which works with agencies and clients directly helping them optimize and integrate the ongoing stream of new technology and marketing options growing in the online space while also more effectively integrating those into their traditional programs. Amanda is the CEO of Amanda Vega Consulting, a firm of over 120 people in 15 countries in four languages that handle interactive strategy and implementation for companies such as Publicis Modem’s Betty Crocker and General Mills, Banana Republic, First Juice and more. Her firm is technically one of the oldest social media management company with engagements in the industry dating 10 years. Amanda is a published author of “PR in a Jar” and contributor to the best selling book “The Social Media Bible". She’s a frequent industry expert speaker at such conference as Search Engine Strategies and Ad:Tech. She has additionally been featured on Oprah and spoke for the White House Press Core about social media. She is a board member for many local and national non-profits and professional organizations. Amanda was one of the first bloggers on the Internet and helped shape many of the “social media” tools we have today – well before they had a name.

Life Board Members

Tom Ambrose

Tom is well known in the greater Phoenix metropolitan area as a community leader and innovator in public relations, team foundation management and fund-raising. He spent 37 years with the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Suns Charities. His unique skill set includes extensive experience in public relations, advertising, community relations, marketing, special events, fund-raising and non-profit management.

Ramone Elias

Ramone recently retired after spending his entire career with the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley. After 43 years with the organization he retired as the President and CEO. Under Ramone's leadership he took the organization from five clubs to twelve clubs and tripled the budget. We are thrilled to have Ramone on our board bringing with him the passion and energy to help other non-profits grow in Maricopa County.

Elizabeth Hale

Elizabeth Hale, CPA, has more than 25 years of experience working with small to medium businesses. Having owned or operated several small businesses, Elizabeth can readily communicate with her clients from a position of understanding how challenging it is to manage the vision, the employees and the cash flow. Elizabeth has a passion for serving clients and being responsive to their needs. Consultancy provides her the opportunity to share and deepen her own expertise. Elizabeth founded eeCPA plc in 2004. Today, eeCPA employs 15 dedicated team members to serve more than 400 clients. Team eeCPA loves to simplify the complex and find creative solutions for the problems their clients face.

John Lewis

John served as Mayor of Gilbert from 2009 - 2016. Prior community involvement included serving as Co-Chairman of the Town's Diversity Task Force, Organizer of Community Interfaith activities, and Founder of Gilbert's "Constitution Week" celebration. In addition to his mayoral duties, Mayor Lewis also serves on the following regional boards and committees: Arizona League of Cities Executive Committee, Maricopa Association of Government (MAG) Regional Council, MAG Economic Development Committee (Past Chair), Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Board, Greater Phoenix Economic Council Board, East Valley Partnership Board, Arizona BrainFood Executive Board, Care for Life Advisory Board and Ascenda Executive Board.

Mark Dillon

Mark Dillon is an attorney with the Dillon Law Office PLLC. Prior to starting his own firm, he served as general counsel for the Arizona office of what is today Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real estate brokerage, before which time he was a partner in the Scottsdale firm Sacks Tierney P.A. His practice focuses on employment law, commercial litigation, and real estate. He has served on several boards of directors through the years and is honored to join the Board Developer Foundation to assist non-profits to build and manage their own organizations.

Mike Lowe

Michael Lowe is the Deputy General Manager and Chief Customer Executive for Salt River Project, serving 1 million electric customers in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona. His responsibilities include power distribution, water delivery, customer service, billing, and supporting information and operational technologies. He oversees a staff of 2,000 employees. A 38-year veteran of SRP with former leadership roles in pricing, finance, and information systems, Michael has delivered a host of services leading to enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty. These include the largest program for prepaid electric service in North America; a territory-wide network of utility-owned automated payment kiosks processing over 10 million payments per year; and one of the largest time-of-use pricing programs in the United States. Under Michael’s guidance, SRP has deployed smart meters territory wide, providing enhanced services and lower operating costs. In no small measure to the contributions of Michael and his team, SRP has earned 27 awards for customer satisfaction from JD Power and Associates. In 2010, Michael was selected as the Intelligent Utility Customer Service Leader of the Year by IntelligentUtility Magazine, based on demonstrated industry leadership in delivering excellent customer service and offering unique services to SRP’s customer base. Mr. Lowe is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix and is past chairperson of the Community Board of Dignity Health East Valley Hospitals. He received his MBA from Arizona State University. He also holds a BA in economics, summa cum laude, from California State University, Stanislaus. A second-generation native of Arizona, Mr. Lowe and his family reside in Tempe, Arizona.

Donna Marino

Donna is the president and CEO of Catholic Education Arizona, Arizona’s largest provider of scholarships to low-income families attending private schools. She has spent the majority of her career in fundraising and non-profit administration.

Paula Pedene

Ted Williams

Ted Williams, President/CEO of Arizona Behavioral Health Corp. (ABC Housing) that provides permanent supportive housing to homeless individuals in Maricopa County that have been determined to be clinically and legally Serious Mentally Ill. Prior to ABC, Mr. Williams was the Director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, Assistant County Manager over all Maricopa County public health and health delivery programs. Served as Special Assistant to Governor Castro and ultimately served six governors. Worked for the Arizona Senate as a consultant in the drafting of AHCCCS and later began implementation of program as ADHS Director. Has been an active board member on AZ Senior Olympics, District Medical Group and Governance Committee of the Mercy Maricopa Integrated Care. Holds degrees in Engineering and Law and has been an active pilot since 1968.