SALC Cohort Three Alumni

Aaron Casem

State Wildfire Prevention Officer
Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management
[email protected]
602-499-4271

Aaron Casem works for the Department of Forestry and Fire Management as the State Wildfire Prevention Officer. Born and raised in Waialua, Hawai’i, Aaron attended Hawaii Pacific University and moved to Arizona in 1997. Aaron has worked in Arizona in jobs ranging from elementary and middle school teacher to Program Director for the Valley of the Sun YMCA from 1998 - 2010.

As the State Wildfire Prevention Officer, Aaron is responsible for Smokey Bear education program, Wildland Fire Investigations and is the state liaison for the Firewise USA program educating homeowners on the importance of preparing property making them resilient to Wildfire.

Alex Ong

Deputy Director of Administration
Arizona Department of Child Safety
[email protected]
602-255-2704

Alex Ong serves as the Deputy Director of Administration for the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which includes oversight of the Department’s Budget & Finance, Business Operations, Information Technology, Procurement and Contracts, Human Resources and Medicaid Health Plan for Children in Foster Care. Alex began his career with the state in 2007 after graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics. He has previously served in various roles within the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Office of the Director, Financial Services Administration before assisting in the creation of the new Department of Child Safety in 2014.

Alex is a proud Flinn Brown Fellow and serves on the Grand Canyon University Advisory Board for  the School of Social Work. Alex is an avid sports fan and during his free time enjoys golfing and playing basketball.
 

Caitlin Vanderkarr

General Counsel
Arizona Department of Gaming
[email protected]
602-568-5387

Caitlin Vanderkarr serves as General Counsel for the Arizona Department of Gaming. She advises in all areas within the Department’s jurisdiction including: Tribal Gaming, Boxing & MMA, Racing, Event Wagering, Fantasy Sports, and rule drafting. Her prior legal experience includes working for the State of Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality and running an estate planning firm. Prior to attending law school, Caitlin taught algebra and geometry through the Teach For America program at Tolleson Union High School. She is a Michigan native and moved to Arizona in 2017. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and reading.

Christina Quast

Deputy Assistant Director of Managed Care Operations
AHCCCS
[email protected]

Christina Quast has worked at AHCCCS, in the Division of Health Care Services, Operations unit, for nearly 10 years. She is responsible for the oversight and monitoring of general compliance of the nine contracted Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). Ms. Quast also oversees a team of professionals, including Compliance staff who monitor general compliance of the MCO contracts, as well as units that oversee Medicare, network compliance, and data validation. In addition, she is involved numerous agency wide activities including MCO audits, MCO procurements, member transition activities, and agency contract and policy revisions.

Cindy Casaus

Assistant Director
Arizona Registrar of Contractors
[email protected]
602-300-4185

Cindy Casaus is the Assistant Director at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Cindy oversees the Agency's communications, outreach, and financial operations and serves as the Agency Ombudsman. Before joining AZ ROC, Cindy worked at the Greater Phoenix Chamber and a privately owned data center design and build company. Committed to public service, Cindy is a community volunteer and serves as Vice President of a school advisory board and President of a statewide women’s organization. A third-generation Arizonan, Cindy earned a B.S. in Accountancy from the Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business and resides in Ahwatukee with her husband David, and daughter Adeline.
 

Cori Dolan

Specialized Forestry Programs Administrator
Arizona Department of Forestry & Fire Management
[email protected] 
520-262-5519

Cori Dolan has a BS in Wildlife Conservation and Entomology and an MS in Fire Ecology. She has over 20 years experience in the human dimensions of wildland fire risk assessment and ecology and translating technical science information to various audiences. She has been with AZDFFM since 2016 and currently oversees the Specialized Forestry Unit, which includes urban and community forestry, forest health, invasive plants, and forest legacy.

Emily Uline-Olmstead

Justice Program Manager
Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family
[email protected] 
480-904-7656

Emily Uline-Olmstead has served at the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family (GOYFF) since 2018. Within her position, Emily currently manages the Justice Team and helps to administer Arizona’s Stop Violence Against Women Grant. Previously, Emily worked as a dual diagnosis outpatient therapist in rural Ohio at community mental health agencies. Emily also has experience serving as a treatment liaison on specialty courts, conducting treatment assessments within inpatient settings, responding to hospitals as a trained sexual assault advocate and administration within a dropout recovery high school. Emily holds a master in social work from the Ohio State University.

Fernando Garcia

Senior VP of Business Development & Team Lead
Arizona Commerce Authority
[email protected] 
602-558-0614

Fernando is a Senior Vice President of Business Development and Team Lead with the Arizona Commerce Authority where he has maintained a project portfolio in the semiconductor, automotive, battery, and advanced manufacturing industries. Through his tenure at the Arizona Commerce Authority, Fernando has attracted projects totaling over 5,800 jobs with a capital investment of $1.8B. His focus is to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy strategically following a three-pronged approach: attract, expand, and create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries.

George McNeely

Chief Human Resources Officer
Arizona Department of Administration
[email protected] 
480-688-4897

George’s career with the State started in 2018 when he joined the HR team at the ADOT. In 2019 George accepted the role as Chief Human Resources Officer for ADOA Shared Services. Prior to his state service, George worked in private sector Operations and Human Resources director roles in Manufacturing, Renewable Energy and Agriculture. George is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and also holds a B.S. in Human Resource Management and a MBA both from Grand Canyon University. George spends much of his free time exploring Arizona and enjoying the outdoors while searching for the perfect plate of tacos. George is most proud of being “Dad” to his daughter.

Heather Flowers

Assistant Director,
Strategic Initiatives & Policy
Arizona Department of Agriculture
[email protected] 
602-680-0923

Heather Flowers serves as the Assistant Director for Strategic Initiatives and Policy at the Arizona Department of Agriculture. She has been with the State of Arizona since 2016 and has held positions in the Government Transformation Office and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Prior to joining the State of Arizona, she worked as an environmental scientist in South Carolina. Heather holds a B.S. in Geology from the College of Charleston and is currently pursuing a M.S. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Grand Canyon University.

Heather and her husband, Christopher, have been married since 1998 and they have four children and one grandson.

Hether Krause

Air Quality Division Deputy Assistant Director
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
[email protected] 
602-771-4655

Hether Krause started her career in 2000 at Maricopa County, working for the Environmental Services Department then the Air Quality Department, holding various roles during her tenure at the County. In 2018, Ms. Krause became the City of Avondale’s Environmental & Sustainability Program Manager, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and implementing sustainability projects. In January 2020, Ms. Krause assumed the role of the Air Quality Division Deputy Assistant Director for ADEQ. Ms. Krause is a Certified Public Manager and a Registered Sanitarian. Ms. Krause holds a BS degree in Environmental Science and is currently working towards her Master of Public Administration.

Jen Stewart

Assistant Director,
Support Services
Arizona Game and Fish Department
[email protected] 
623-236-7360

Jen is an executive leader with over 20 years experience in financial management and business administration within public and private sector organizations and is currently the Assistant Director for Support Services at the Arizona Game and Fish Department. She is an Executive Staff leader, overseeing division operations for approximately 100 employees in five branches, including Budget and Accounting, Information Technology, Procurement, Development and Engineering, and Customer Service.

Jen holds a Masters in Accounting and Financial Management and a Masters in Business Administration, as well as a Certified Public Manager Certification from the ASU Bob Ramsey Executive Education Program.

Jenine Wright

Superintendent of Education
Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections
[email protected] 
602-525-8520

Ms. Wright hails from the Chicago, Illinois area with twenty-plus years of experience in education and educational leadership. Her passion involves ‘moving the needle’ of those who others may ‘count out’ and who are constantly searching for the next level in education for at-risk youth. As the educational leader, Ms. Wright’s educational philosophy includes promoting and enhancing educational programs and support for ALL students within the agency and school. She would like to ensure that ALL students are empowered by providing an organized and personalized education so that they can compete and contribute positively to global societies and their communities.

Jennifer Michaelsen

Deputy Director
Arizona Board of Psychologist Examiners
[email protected] 
602-542-8159 

Jennifer Michaelsen has worked for the State of Arizona for 9 years total. Since 2019, she has been in the role of Deputy Director for the Board of Psychologist Examiners. In addition to managing the agency’s day-to-day operations with the Executive Director, Ms. Michaelson serves as the Board’s sole investigator and oversees all investigative matters. She has  previously worked for the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners from 2014 – 2019 as their Senior Investigator. Ms. Michaelsen has earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a specialization in organizational leadership from National University. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from CSULB. In 2014, she moved to Arizona from California. She is an avid hiker.

Jeramia Garcia Ramadan

Director of Governance and Innovation
Arizona Department of Economic Security
[email protected] 
480-521-5663  

Jeramia is a proud latina born and raised in Arizona in a large family that all still lives in the state. She is an alumni of the University of Arizona where she received her bachelors in public administration. Prior to returning to her home state, Jeramia served in the US Peace Corps in Guatemala, received a masters in public policy, and worked on policy for the USDA. She joined the Department of Economic Security in 2019 as a Policy Administrator and is now the first ever Director of Governance and Innovation. Jeramia lives in Phoenix with her incredible husband and two young children.

Captain Jeromy McDonald

Arizona Department of Public Safety 
[email protected] 
602-702-2951

Jeromy McDonald was promoted to the rank of Captain in January 2023 and assigned to the Agency Support Division of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He became an Arizona State Trooper in June 2005. His first assignment was to the Highway Patrol Division. In August 2014, he was assigned to the Vehicular Crimes Unit within the Criminal Investigations Division. In August 2018, he was promoted to sergeant and assigned to the Records Management Team. During his time as a sergeant, he held supervisory positions in four of the Department’s primary divisions. Captain McDonald holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University.

Jessica Mueller

Senior Policy Specialist
Arizona State Board of Education
[email protected] 
602-319-0683

Jessica Mueller has a dual BS in Psychological Science and Family and Human Development, a Master's in Social Work Policy and Administration, and is pursuing a Doctorate of Education. She has supported federal child and family well-being research grants. In addition to quantitative analyses, Jessica has written grants and collected and evaluated qualitative data. Since 2019, she's been the Data and Research Analyst at the State Board of Education, investigating and evaluating policies, and disseminates information to the public. She's experienced with Arizona's state data systems in child safety, behavioral health, corrections, judiciary, and education. Jessica is proud to be from Arizona.
 

John Meza

Inspector General
Arizona Department of Economic Security
[email protected] 
602-510-6456

John Meza is a fifth generation Arizonan whose family has deep roots in AZ. He currently serves as the Inspector General for ADES, responsible for safeguarding Arizonans by preventing, detecting, and investigating fraud, waste, abuse and misconduct and the physical security of all DES facilities.

Mr. Meza has over 35 years of experience in public safety including eleven years as a police executive and retired in 2017 as the Chief of Police of the Mesa Police Department. He currently serves as a board member for several local non-profit organizations including Board President for Arizona Anti-Trafficking Network, Hickey Family Foundation, Fiesta Bowl Charities and Community Bridges Incorporated.

Josephine Maressa

Deputy Director
Water Quality Division
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
[email protected]
602-771-0339

Josephine Maressa grew up in a rural New Jersey town within the Wharton State Forest. After high school, she attended Ursinus College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies. Her  passion for the environment then led her to Vermont Law School where she received a Masters in Environmental Law and Policy, Certificate in Energy Law, and Juris Doctor. Following law school, Ms. Maressa joined the New Jersey Attorney General Office’s Environmental Enforcement Section. After three years, she was looking for a change, bringing her to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. She first started at ADEQ as a Safe Drinking Water Unit Managers, and then was promoted to Water Quality Division Deputy Director.

Kimberly Suciu

Associate General Counsel
Arizona Department of Administration
[email protected] 
602-542-2512

Kim Suciu is the Associate General Counsel for the Arizona Department of Administration. Before joining the State, she practiced general civil litigation at the Cavanagh Law Firm in Phoenix, Arizona. Ms. Suciu is admitted to practice law in Arizona, the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Ms. Suciu externed for the Honorable Patricia A. Orozco at the Arizona Court of Appeals during law school.

Kori Kappes

Senior Finance Administrator
Arizona Department of Economic Security
[email protected] 
480-349-4658

Kori Kappes serves as Senior Finance Administrator within the Department of Economic Security. She is a resident of Gilbert, Arizona with more than nine years of State service. She continues to bring to the table her ability to flex to the challenges of operating a human services organization along with a strategic focus on the improvement of processes, detailed analysis and quality reporting. Kori graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Finance, and is currently pursuing the Certified Public Manager designation through ASU. She and her husband Kaleb enjoy cheering at their son Kale’s football games and watching their daughter Kali dance.

Krystal Colburn

Chief Reporting Officer & Assistant State Registrar
Arizona Department of Health Services
[email protected] 
602-364-1227

Krystal Colburn, wife, mother of 2 awesome boys, and Public Health Professional. Krystal currently serves as the Assistant State Registrar and Chief Reporting Officer at the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). Overseeing the Bureau of Vital Records, the Office of Auditing, and other agency reporting functions. Krystal began her public health career in 2006 serving in various roles in epidemiology and disease control and licensing services. Krystal has played a key role in several ADHS projects leveraging technology and improving efficiencies. Krystal holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health Education from Northern Arizona University.

Lisa Pounds

Office of Continuous Improvement & Employee Engagement
Arizona Department of Transportation
[email protected] 
602-712-8088

Lisa Pounds serves as the Administrator of the Office of Continuous Improvement and Employee Engagement for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT). She manages a team that oversees employee engagement programs as well as leading the Agency in continuous improvement efforts through coaching to aid in the development of each individual employee's problem solving and professional development.

Lisa began her career with ADOT in 2002 as a customer service representative at the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) moving then to Infrastructure Delivery and Operations (IDO) working throughout the Division and was the Local Public Agency and Project Resource Office Manager.

Marcellina Valverde

Operations Business Manager
Arizona Board of Executive Clemency
[email protected] 
602-542-5663

Marcellina Valverde moved from Ventura California to Arizona in 2009. She has degrees in Accounting and Organizational Management from Glendale Community College. Marcie worked in the private sector and began serving the State of Arizona in 2020. She became the Operations Business Manager for the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency in July 2022.

In California, Marcie served the County of Ventura from 1996-2002, with the Assessor’s Office, Human Services Agency, and The Superior Court. Marcie was honored with an early retirement to raise her children and relocate to Arizona; while she continued to stay current with her education, community involvement, and personal growth.

Marius Mitrea

Business Integration Manager
Arizona Department of Revenue
[email protected] 
623-383-5129

Marius Mitrea was born and raised in Romania. Graduated from Law School and opened a furniture shop while still in college with 15 staff on payroll. Young, ambitious and naive he thought he was going to beat corruption in his city but he suffered his first major life lesson. Always looking for freedom and fairness Mr. Mitrea immigrated to the USA and became a US citizen 4 years later. Started his career in lower ranks in IT as zero and ones were friendlier to his healing process and easier on his adjustments to a new system. He worked his way up through the ranks and presently he is part of the executive team in the IT department of Arizona Department of Revenue, which he is proudly representing today.

Meggie Washington

Deputy Assistant Director
Medical Services Contract Monitoring Bureau 
Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry
[email protected] 
480-352-4784

Meggie Washington works for the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) as the Deputy Assistant Director for the Medical Services Contract Monitoring Bureau. Meggie is a Certified Correctional Healthcare Professional with 31 years of work experience in the healthcare industry. She has worked 16+ of those years in correctional healthcare building dynamic teams and leading significant project initiatives. Meggie has a combined 25+ years of leadership experience in operations management, medical claims administration, staff development, and training. Meggie earned a Master Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Keller Graduate School of Management.

Michael Raum

Shooting Sports Branch Chief
Arizona Game and Fish Department
[email protected] 
602-361-1401

Mike serves as the Shooting Sports Branch Chief for the Arizona Game & Fish Department. In his role he provides leadership and oversight of 10 Commission owned properties including the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. Mike has been with AZGFD for 17 years, serving in a variety of education and administrative capacities where he has successfully built relationships and partnerships, developed business and operation plans, and was a key contributor in leading AZGFD’s continuous improvement efforts during the implementation of AMS.

Mike enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and their chocolate Lab. They are parents of two grown children and have a young grandson.

Nicole Valenzuela

Program Administrator
Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family
[email protected] 
602-542-1705

Nicole Valenzuela is a dedicated social worker with a strong belief in the importance of empathy, effective communication, and community advocacy. She is passionate about collaborating with vulnerable populations and building relationships with the community. Ms. Valenzuela  advocates to raise awareness about challenges through partnerships with impacted individuals, local agencies, and policymakers to identify solutions with our communities. As a Program Administrator, she support statewide substance use and child abuse prevention programs to have meaningful impact on the community. She is committed to making a positive impact by empowering individuals and communities through her dedication, compassion, and leadership.

Pauline Machiche

Deputy Director of Field Operations
Arizona Department of Child Safety
[email protected] 
602-255-2555

Arizona native Pauline Machiche began her career with Arizona Department of Child Safety (formally Child Protective Services) in 1994 as a Case Aide assisting families before promoting to DCS Specialist, Supervisor, Program Manager and South Region Administrator. She was appointed as Deputy Director of Field Operations in June, 2023. Pauline is a values-based leader with 30 years of expertise in Arizona Department Child Safety field operations, policy, and procedures across all areas. She cultivates collaborative working relationships with internal and external partners to optimize Department goals and mission, resolve complex problems, and deliver innovative improvement strategies. In addition, Pauline has contributed to numerous committees, projects and work groups at the local and state levels, including the Governor’s Oversight on Child Welfare reform and the Arizona State University SSW Tucson Advisory Board.

Pauline also draws her experience as an adoptive mother of a child. She holds a Masters of Public Administration from Grand Canyon University, a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Arizona State University, and is a Certified Public Manager.
 

Rachael Salley

Maternal Child Health/EPSDT Manager
AHCCCS
[email protected] 
602-448-9674

Born and raised in Arizona, Rachael has served in a leadership role within Arizona state government for the past six years, including her current role as the Maternal Child Health and EPSDT Manager at AHCCCS since 2021. Prior to that, she spent four years at the Department of Health Services, first as the Immunization Assessment Manager and then as the Chief for the Office of Chronic Disease, and took on a role overseeing COVID-19 case investigation and contact tracing during the public health emergency.

She is passionate about serving Arizonans and looks forward to using what she learns and the connections she makes in the SALC program to grow her leadership career within state government.