SALC Cohort Two Alumni
Adam Young
Deputy Warden
Arizona Department of Public Safety
[email protected]
520-868-0201
Alisa Randall
Assistant Director,
Division of Grants and Innovation
Arizona Health Cost Containment Care System
[email protected]
602-417-4794
Alisa Randall, Assistant Director for the Division of Grants and Innovation for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), Arizona’s Medicaid program, oversees a team who administer more than $300 million in federal grant funding on an annual basis. Under her leadership, AHCCCS pursues, implements, and administers multiple grants annually including Block Grants, State Opioid Response, the 988 Planning Grant, and various discretionary grants. In addition, Ms. Randall oversees the State Opioid Treatment Authority as well as the Integrated System of Care for behavioral health needs within the state and AHCCCS’ Housing Program, inclusive of the Health and Housing Opportunities.
Audra Merrick
Deputy State Engineer
Arizona Department of Transportation
[email protected]
928-266-6281
Audra Merrick is the ADOT Deputy State Engineer. She is a graduate of Lehigh University in Bethlehem PA with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and is a Registered Civil Engineer in AZ and CA. Audra has 30 years in civil engineering experience ranging from bridge design and teaching bridge design, along with roadway and bridge construction, project management and nine years as the North Central District Administrator.
Her experience has been instrumental in unique responses to events like the US89 Landslide and the subsequent reconstruction, along with emergency response to many roadway sinkholes, fires, floods, winter snow events, and various incident management activities.
Major Chris Hemmen
Operational Commander,
Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau (CVEB)
Arizona Department of Public Safety
[email protected]
602-430-5598
Chris Hemmen has worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) for over 30 years. He currently serves as the Operational Commander for the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Bureau (CVEB). His law enforcement career has involved a wide range of experiences in patrol, criminal interdiction, canine training, logistics administration, operational training, and information technology.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Arizona University. Chris is a graduate of the prestigious FBI National Academy, Session 272. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).
Chuck Stojakovich
Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer
Arizona Department of Transportation
[email protected]
602-712-7351
Chuck Stojakovich is the Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer for the Arizona Department
of Transportation (ADOT), which includes oversight of HR Operations, Recruitment, Employee Relations and Awards & Recognition. Before joining ADOT, he worked in healthcare staffing as a professional recruiter and staffing manager. Born and raised in Indiana, he moved to Arizona in 2001 and graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2005 with a B.S. in Justice Studies and again in 2021 with an Executive Masters in Public Administration. Chuck and his wife Monique live in Goodyear with their three children; Charlie, Reagan, and William.
Clayton Crowder
Assistant Director
Wildlife Management Division
Arizona Game and Fish Department
[email protected]
623-236-7666
Clay Crowder is the Assistant Director of the Wildlife Management division at the AZGFD. The Wildlife Management division has more than 160 employees and programmatic oversight of a $45 million annual budget. Clay has worked for the AZGFD since 2008, starting out as a wildlife technician in Yuma. Clay has served in several capacities within the AZGFD, including native fish biologist, Habitat Partnership Committee coordinator, natural resources planner, and most recently the Habitat, Evaluation and Lands branch chief. He has been Assistant Director since January 2020. Clay received a B.S. in Fisheries Sciences from New Mexico State University. Clay and his son reside in Peoria.
Clifford Holden
Certification Manager
Arizona Department of Gaming
[email protected]
480-549-31009
David Ramirez
Vice President, Competitiveness
Arizona Commerce Authority
[email protected]
915-342-6990
David Ramirez is the Vice President of Competitiveness at the Arizona Commerce Authority, the state’s economic development organization. In this role, David supports economic development efforts by leading a technical research team engaged in tax, incentive and policy analysis with the primary focus of evaluating Arizona against other states. With a background spanning more than a decade in economic development research, David has experience conducting comprehensive tax and incentive analyses in addition to labor market, international trade and general business and economic development research and analysis.
Edgar Gutierrez
Licensing Division Manager
Arizona Department of Revenue
[email protected]
602-706-2855
Edgar Gutierrez is a dedicated Licensing Division Manager at the Department of Revenue. With nearly 11 years of experience as an Arizona State employee, Edgar is deeply committed to public service and his colleagues' growth and empowerment, aiming to create a thriving and productive culture within the organization. Demonstrating his passion for excellence, he has actively contributed to numerous continuous improvement initiatives within the agency. His completion of the SALC program was a transformative milestone that propelled him to pursue further education, and he is now enrolled in the University of Arizona’s Executive MBA program.
Edwin Wangler
Assistant Director,
Office of Child Welfare Chief
Arizona Department of Child Safety
[email protected]
602-527-4047
After years of thinking he knew where he was headed, Edwin stumbled upon one of the most important and fulfilling jobs anyone could be lucky enough to experience. He started with the Department of Child Safety in 2014, originally in ongoing before moving to an investigator position where his passion for this work grew. Edwin feels fortunate to have the opportunity to work with children, support families during a critical time in their lives, and to better the community we live in. One of his favorite quotes is “don’t rise to the occasion, revert to your training.” For him, that is about discipline and consistency knowing your energy has influence well beyond ordinary boundaries.
Elise Mikkelsen
Director,
Division of Problem Gambling
Arizona Department of Gaming
[email protected]
602-513-0010
Elise Mikkelsen serves as the Director for the Division of Problem Gambling within the Arizona Department of Gaming. Elise has worked in the division for more than 16 years. As the director, she oversees every aspect of the division including the areas of treatment, prevention and outreach as well as Self-Exclusion. Prior to joining DPG, Elise was the Clinical Director of a behavioral health agency in Phoenix and has 30 years’ experience in the behavioral health field. In her current role, she strives to continue providing opportunities to improve the lives of Arizonans in need.
Erin Higbee
Assistant Administrator
Public Safety Personnel Retirement System
[email protected]
480-510-3937
Erin Higbee Serves as the Assistant Administrator for the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, which provides retirement benefits to the state’s first responders, corrections officers, judges, and elected officials. Erin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role, as she had 10 years of experience with the Arizona State Retirement System, where she was the Assistant Director of the Financial Services Division and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to that, Erin had 10 years of experience in public accounting as an auditor. Erin holds degrees in Business Administration, Accounting, and Political Science, as well as a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance. In her free time, Erin likes to hike and spend time with family and friends.
Gillian Vanasse
Chief Operations Officer
Arizona Department of Child Safety
[email protected]
602-255-2719
Gillian is an accomplished, professional with 18 years of experience successfully developing, implementing, and managing programs specific to child safety, foster care, and adoption. In her current role at the Department of Child Safety, she works collaboratively leading a team of professionals, assessing risk factors, and making recommendations to ensure smooth execution of operational activities. She is a solutions-oriented leader with a commitment to continuous improvement, a proven ability to prioritize and analyze multiple projects, and experience that leads to operational success. Gillian aspires to help people in need and make process improvements to benefit families and children.
Heidi Rayment
Marketing and Public Affairs Branch Chief
Arizona Department of Game & Fish
[email protected]
623-236-7
Heidi Rayment leads the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s marketing and public affairs efforts. Educating Arizonans about AZGFD and its mission is a fun, challenging, creative responsibility she takes seriously. When you work for an agency that conserves and protects 800+ species of wildlife, there is no shortage of stories to tell. An Arizona native, Heidi received her journalism degree from Northern Arizona University and worked for a group of community newspapers as a reporter and editor before joining Arizona Game and Fish. Twenty years later she continues to enjoy connecting with Arizonans, building relationships, developing leaders, and furthering agency initiatives and priorities.
Captain Jason Gibbs
Human Resources Commander
Arizona Department of Public Safety
[email protected]
602-223-2672
Jason Gibbs was promoted to Captain in 2023 and is currently assigned to the Human Resources Bureau. Captain Gibbs was hired as a State Trooper and assigned to the Highway Patrol Division. He served in both patrol and administrative roles before promoting to Sergeant in 2015. As a sergeant, he served in the Highway Patrol Division Office, as the Records Management System Manager, and as a patrol Sergeant. After promoting to Captain in 2018, he served again on the Highway Patrol Division Staff and as the Gang Enforcement Commander before transferring to the Human Resources Bureau in 2021. Captain Gibbs holds a Bachelor of Arts in Law Enforcement and is a Certified Public Manager.
Jeremiah Scott
Assistant Director
Arizona State Retirement System
[email protected]
Jessee Galvez, Jr.
Chief of Staff,
Agency Support Division
Arizona Department of Public Safety
[email protected]
602-526-2049
Matt Moul
Deputy State Engineer
Arizona Department of Transportation
[email protected]
Phone Number
602-712-8274
Megan Hawker
Education & Training Programs Administrator
Arizona Department of Revenue
[email protected]
602-884-1768
Megan Hawker serves as the Education and Training Programs Administrator for the Arizona Department of Revenue where she oversees a team who develop and present taxpayer education workshops, along with internal training and development. Prior to coming to ADOR, Megan held several upper management positions with a big box retailer before deciding a career change was in order. Megan began her journey with the ADOR in the Collections Customer Care department before being promoted to a Specialty Tax Auditor. As an auditor, Megan developed and improved several programs. Her commitment to serve and desire to help Arizona taxpayers led her to her role in Education and Training.
Roberta Harrison
Chief Financial Officer
Arizona Department of Economic Security
[email protected]
480-322-7955
Roberta has provided financial and operational leadership to DES for more than 16 years. She was named Chief Financial Officer in 2020 and along with an amazing team, she oversees the financial, accounting, and procurement functions of a multi-billion dollar agency. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and recently completed the Public Leadership Credential program. She is now engaged in Valley Leadership’s third Catalyze class where she hopes to gain a new perspective on the issues facing Arizona.
When she is not working, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends, especially her husband and two adorable kids.
Scott Selin
Chief Financial Officer
Arizona Department of Water Resources
[email protected]
602-771-8508
Scott grew up in North Phoenix. After graduating from Cortez High School, he spent two years performing missionary service abroad in Santiago, Chile. He graduated from BYU with a bachelor's degree in Spanish in 2007 and a Masters in Public Administration in 2009. He spent almost 7 years working for the Governor's Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting (OSPB). He has been at the Arizona Department of Water Resources since August of 2016.
He typically enjoys his work, but would rather be coaching volleyball, racing go-karts, playing board games, and helping his kids navigate junior high and high school.
Sean Malone
Deputy Assistant Director
Arizona Department of Corrections
[email protected]
602-771-5800