Staff Reports | Community Updates
Scottsdale Leadership announced the graduation of Class 40, a group of 46 community leaders, following a ceremony May 8, 2026, in Scottsdale.
The ceremony marked the completion of a year focused on professional development, civic involvement and leadership training, according to a press release.
As part of the program, Class 40 completed four “Project Lead It Forward” initiatives aimed at supporting local organizations and addressing community needs. The projects are part of Scottsdale Leadership’s service-learning component. For the first time, the 2026 projects included participation from Scottsdale Leadership alumni.
In total, participants contributed 3,020 volunteer hours, secured $136,750 in in-kind donations and raised $100,121, with projects estimated to impact about 5,280 people.
This year’s projects partnered with several nonprofit organizations:
Cattle Track Arts Compound:
The team developed a marketing campaign and community event for Cattle Track Arts Compound, a historic arts community in Scottsdale. The event drew more than 1,200 guests over two days, and the team created a business guide outlining strategies for hosting future events.
The Walter Hive:
The team created a digital design lab to provide youth with access to technology and hands-on workshops. The lab is intended to support learning opportunities and introduce potential career pathways.
Scottsdale Family Resource Center:
The team converted an outdoor area into an enclosed play space designed for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. The project supports the organization’s goal of providing a safe, accessible environment for families with young children.
Horses Help:
The team developed an outdoor space designed for program participants, including a patio with repurposed brick, seating and a fountain. The space also can be used for future fundraising events.
Lexie’s Ranch (alumni project):
Scottsdale Leadership alumni created a community garden featuring sensory-friendly elements designed for families raising children with special needs.
“These projects reflect the heart of Scottsdale Leadership’s mission,” Executive Director Lee Ann Witt said. “Class 40 not only learned about the challenges our community faces—they took action. Each PLIF project demonstrates the power of collaborative leadership, and the difference passionate individuals can make.”
Since its founding in 1986, Scottsdale Leadership has graduated more than 1,400 alumni who serve in civic, business and nonprofit roles. Class 40 joins that network as program alumni.
Class 40 graduates include:
- Bill Abad, Vanguard Group, director of fund policy
- Patricia Barney, HonorHealth Foundation, associate vice president
- Courtney Beyer, Nautilus Insurance Group, vice president of human resources
- Keith Bowers, Bowers AI, president
- Melinda Browning, Civic Center Pharmacy, chief customer experience officer
- Cresencio Celaya, DataShift, senior strategy, delivery and business development consultant
- Angela Clervoix, Stingley Management-McDonald’s, business manager/Next Gen
- Angelina Cooper, HonorHealth Research Institute, director of strategic research business and trauma research
- Lauren Crider, Renaissance Personnel Group, executive vice president
- Sarah Dalton, HonorHealth, service line program manager
- Lauren Daniels, Happily Ever After League, founder and executive director
- Samantha DeMoss, Rose Law Group, land use and zoning attorney
- Kathryn Dwyer, Dwyer & Associates, president, nonprofit consultant and publicist
- James Garman, Suzi Glover State Farm, business development and office manager
- Marisha Geraghty, Paradise Valley Unified School District, volunteer administrator
- Peg Ghering, St. Vincent de Paul, vice president
- Dr. Freda Hartman, Norwich University, graduate faculty
- Chris Henderson, Gartner, client executive
- Sean La Rue, Luminate Bank, branch manager
- Jessica Linzey, Nationwide Insurance, claim manager and program manager
- Sherry Jane Love, SJAL Enterprises LLC, president
- Patrick McCartney, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, financial advisor
- Beth McRae, The McRae Agency, CEO and founder
- James Meyer, Illumination Systems, manager of architectural residential sales
- Lea Mitchell, Scottsdale Unified School District, assistant superintendent
- Greg Muir, Arizona School of Real Estate and Business, vice president and general manager
- Kim Novenski, CardioVascular Institute of Scottsdale, cardiology nurse practitioner
- Whitney Pitt, City of Scottsdale, business services director
- Dr. Skip Powerll, Phoenix ER and Hospital, emergency physician
- Steven Rajakovich, Hope & A Future, chief development officer
- Jessica Rapp, City of Scottsdale, human services manager
- Crissy Seals, Nationwide Insurance, associate vice president
- Shelley Seaver, HonorHealth Research Institute, manager of business operations
- Jessica Sharkey, Gemsight College & Career Planners, college essay editor
- Amanda Siegal, Valley of the Sun YMCA, executive director
- Kimberly Smith, Banner Health, practice manager
- Jennifer Spiegel Welch, Nationwide Insurance, senior consultant
- Clint Steeves, Scottsdale Fire Department, assistant fire chief
- Karen Sutherland, Scottsdale Police Department, support services director
- Dr. Erica Tatum-Sheade, Integrated Mental Health, owner and child and adolescent clinician
- Aaron Torres, Scottsdale Community College, student services manager
- Jimmy Vo, MidFirst Private Bank, portfolio manager
- Laura Vreeland, Arizona State University, senior director of recruitment communications
- Bruce Wall, City of Scottsdale, citizen advisor
- Lynette Whitener, DC Ranch Community Council, community engagement director
- Christopher Wurpts, North Scottsdale United Methodist Church, lead pastor
