Andy Tobin was appointed as Director of the Arizona Department of Administration in May 2019. Prior to his appointment, he served as a Commissioner on the Arizona Corporation Commission from 2015-2019. Director Tobin was a long-time member of the Arizona House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the House from 2011-2014. Before joining the Arizona Legislature, Director Tobin served as Director of the Arizona Department of Insurance and the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions.
Leadership Staff
Elizabeth Alvarado-Thorson
Deputy Director
Elizabeth Thorson was appointed Interim Director of the Arizona Department of Administration in February 2019. Elizabeth oversees the direction of policy and operations of all the divisions within the agency. Prior to her appointment, Elizabeth served as Deputy Director and prior to that, was the Assistant Director of the Human Resources Division.
Elizabeth earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Psychology and emphasis in Organizational Behavior from Arizona State University. She is a 2017 Flinn Brown Civic Leadership Academy Fellow. Elizabeth and her husband live in Peoria with their two daughters.
Ray Di Ciccio
Deputy Director
Ray Di Ciccio was officially announced as Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Administration on July 1, 2019. Prior to his appointment, he served as State Risk Manager and Director of the Risk Management Division for the Arizona Department of Administration. Ray has statewide management responsibility for property, liability and workers’ compensation claims management, loss prevention, environmental remediation, risk financing, excess insurance and occupational health. Prior serving as State Risk Manager, Ray was the State Risk Management Finance and Insurance Manager. Outside of State service, Ray is an active member of the State Risk and Insurance Management Association.
Ray earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1982 and Certified Public Accountant designation in 1985. He and his wife Hollie live in Gilbert with their two sons
Megan Rose
Director of Statewide Communications
Megan Rose serves as the Director of Statewide Communications for the Arizona Department of Administration. Megan oversees 35 cabinet agency communication professionals throughout the State of Arizona relating to internal and external communications and is lead for all agency affairs and communications. Prior to joining the State, Megan worked in public relations at Gordon C. James Public Relations for 16 years. Megan is the recipient of one Silver Anvil award, three Copper Anvil awards and ten Phoenix Merit awards.
Megan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Journalism and Urban Studies from University of Arizona. Megan and her husband Scott live in Laveen with their four children.
Derik Leavitt
Assistant Director, Budget and Resource Planning
Derik Leavitt serves as the Director of Budget and Resource Planning for the Arizona Department of Administration. Prior to joining the department, Derik served the State in multiple capacities, as Budget and Finance Administrator for the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Director of Fiscal Management Services for the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections and in the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budget. Derik also spent five years in the private sector as a policy consultant for Burns & Associates.
Derik earned his Master’s degree in Public Administration from Brigham Young University. He and his wife Debbie live in Avondale with their four children.
Nicole Sornsin
General Counsel
Chair, Governor's Regulatory Review Council
Nicole Sornsin serves as ADOA’s General Counsel and Chair of the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council. Before joining ADOA, Nicole served as Chief Legal Counsel and head of the Legal Department and Recovery Fund at the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Prior to joining the State, she spent nearly a decade working as a business litigator at the law firm of Snell & Wilmer, LLP, in Phoenix, where her practice focused on, among other areas, general business torts, construction, financial services, employment discrimination, consumer fraud, unfair competition, and complex contract-related disputes. Nicole was recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyers, “Rising Star” in the area of Business Litigation for 2014-2017.
Nicole earned her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Arizona State University and her law degree in 2009 from William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia.
J.R. Sloan
Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Arizona Strategic Enterprise Technology (ASET)
J.R. Sloan joined the State of Arizona in 2013 after working in the technology industry for over 20 years in operational and executive-level roles in both private and public organizations. As Interim CIO, J.R. oversees technology innovation development and IT policies. He also serves as Chairman for the State of Arizona Information Technology Authorization Committee (ITAC) which approves and monitors high-cost technology projects statewide.
Focused on digital transformation for the state, J.R. spearheads projects that make a significant difference for Arizona. He executed on a multi-vendor contract arrangement for web applications and online services that resulted in $1M in annual savings; cutting down processing time from 30 days to 2 days. J.R. also led the efforts of standardizing development and security for over 130 state agency websites, increased the number of online services available to Arizonans by 250% in a two year period as well as formalized policies and governance for key initiatives such as cloud-first and data management. Over the next year, J.R. is accelerating innovation for Arizona by overseeing the roll out of an app for government services, executing machine learning tactics to increase efficiencies statewide and piloting blockchain technology.
During his off hours, J.R. enjoys spending time with his five children and first grandchild as well as hiking, sampling Arizona’s local restaurants and participating in ministries and leadership at his church.
Clark Partridge
State Comptroller
Assistant Director, General Accounting Office
Clark Partridge serves as the State Comptroller and Director of the General Accounting Office for the Arizona Department of Administration. Clark has been with the State of Arizona since 1989 and has served in multiple capacities during his tenure. Prior to transitioning to the public sector, Clark worked in public accounting for Arthur Andersen & Co. In addition to public service, Clark serves on various committees and national professional organizations. Clark has been a March of Dimes volunteer for more than 30 years and has served on the board in both Utah and Arizona.
Clark earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Brigham Young University and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Government Financial Manager. Clark enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Nola Barnes
Assistant Director, General Services Division
Nola Barnes serves as the Director of the General Services Division for the Arizona Department of Administration. Nola is responsible for facilities operations and maintenance, fleet management and surplus property, as well as planning and construction services. Prior to her appointment to Assistant Director, Nola was the General Manager for General Services for nine years and previously worked at the Arizona Department of Economic Security for 14 years.
Nola holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and lives in Phoenix with her husband, Tom.
Matthew Hanson
Director of Grants and Federal Resources
Matthew Hanson serves as the Director of Grants and Federal Resources and Statewide Grants Administrator for the Arizona Department of Administration. Matthew assists in the pursuance and implementation of all federal grants allocated to the State of Arizona. Prior to his appointment, Matthew served at the Governor’s Office of Economic Recovery and as the Intergovernmental and Grants Program Coordinator for the City of Goodyear. Before relocating to Arizona, Matthew was the Director in the Grants Policy Office of the United States Department of Justice.
Matthew earned his Bachelor’s degree in History and Government from Muhlenberg College.
Nancy Gomez
Interim Assistant Director, Human Resources Division
Nancy Gomez serves as the Interim Human Resources Director for the Arizona Department of Administration. The Human Resources Division (HRD) manages the State Personnel System which consists of approximately 34,000 employees from over 100 state agencies, boards and commissions. Prior to her ADOA HR roles, Nancy served as the Assistant Division Director for the Department of Transportation overseeing Human Resources, Affirmative Action and the Civil Rights Office and also worked at the Department of Economic Security for 16 years.
Ed Jimenez
State Procurement Administrator
Assistant Director, State Procurement Office
Ed Jimenez serves as the Director of the State Procurement Office for the Arizona Department of Administration. Ed is the State’s central procurement authority and is responsible for the authorization, oversight and management of the contracting and purchasing activities of the State. Prior to his appointment, Ed worked for Supply Chain Whisperer, LLC as a Sr. Supply Chain and Procurement Consultant and as Executive Director in different capacities for The Boeing Company.
Ed earned his Bachelor’s degree in Management from Western International University and Master’s of Business Administration in Commerce and Finance from Villanova University.
Paul Shannon
Assistant Director, Benefit Services Division
Paul Shannon serves as the Acting Director of the Benefit Services Division for the Arizona Department of Administration. Paul has direct oversight and responsibility for administering the benefits insurance programs for State employees, State University employees and retirees. Paul has more than 30 years of experience with government programs, ranging from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee to the U.S. Peace Corps.
Paul earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Master’s degree in Applied Sociology from Northern Arizona University.
Liz Pence
State Risk Manager, Risk Management Division
Liz Pence was officially announced as State Risk Manager on July 1, 2019. Prior to her appointment, Liz served as the Deputy Risk Manager for the Arizona Department of Administration. Liz is responsible for the management of Property and Casualty claims and Insurance for the state agencies, boards, commissions, and universities. Liz has over thirty years in claims and litigation management experience and over ten years managing the excess insurance program.
