2023 ATHENA® NOMINEES

Janet Dean Arizona Public Service (APS)

Janet Dean is the Public Affairs Manager Senior for APS, responsible for building relationships with city, town, county and tribal elected officials and staff, as well as formal and informal community leaders. Her passion is to help make connections for others. Working across a wide geographic area in the state, Janet has created a network of friends that include every major business and many small business' as well as just about everyone in and around Flagstaff. She has been a driving force in assisting the communities around the Cholla Power Plant transition its economy away from coal.

Janet earned her BS in Journalism with an Emphasis in Public Relations from NAU. She currently sits on six boards across Northern Arizona. In addition to holding formal positions with various entities, Janet is also an ambassador for many non-profit organizations and schools. She provides value to these non-profit organizations and to the community by being a visionary who has the ability to help them shape their visions, as well as connecting them with resources and other groups who can assist them in achieving their goals.

Throughout her career, Janet has been a great role model for young women by “walking the walk”, demonstrating excellence in professional standards, genuinely caring for the community, and a desire to see others succeed. She currently serves on the APS Women in Service Leadership employee group where she has helped develop its annual Excellence in Leadership program the past two years. While at Northern Arizona Healthcare, she mentored several young female employees in order to help them develop talent and skills to advance in their professions and she has fostered more than a dozen college interns, many of them female, with an eye to providing meaningful experiences that helped them develop their resumes.

Jennifer Bucher-Brown NACOG Head Start

Jennifer has nearly 30 years of experience and dedication to the Northern AZ Head Start Program, as the Head Start and Early Head Start Director. The program covers 4 Northern AZ counties and serves over 1,000 children and families, 31 childcare sites, and over 300 staff. With a budget exceeding 22 million annually they proudly operate programs giving children from at-risk backgrounds the skills needed to be successful in school and life.

One of her key accomplishments was re-organizing the NACOG Head Start department in 2019 during the regional re-competition process, 2 years after becoming the Director. The 5-year grant package was awarded back to Northern Arizona. Since that time the program has successfully completed an Office of Head Start federal review with no areas of concern or improvement and has had multiple unmodified fiscal audits.

Jennifer received both her BS in Early Childhood Development and her BA-Spanish minor from NAU. She also completed UCLA’s Management Fellows Program, and WestEd, Program for Infant and Toddler Care Certification. Early in her career she was a Teacher, Mentor, and Education Coordinator.

In response to the national crisis in childhood mental health Jennifer made a bold leadership move and launched leadership in Pyramid Model, working collaboratively with the management team, NAU, Kaibab Behavioral Specialists, Lancaster Leadership, and mental health providers to ensure supports in the field were available to serve as a source of ongoing expertise. Staff buy-in grew quickly because the approach is personalized, self-guided, and empowering. As staff knowledge grew, they were able to share this new approach with parents and families, sustaining positive results. Moving forward, Jennifer hopes to continue to grow leaders from within, along with positively contributing community members, advocates, leaders and role models.

Katie Wittekind is a facilitator, coach, trainer, writer, and strategist for Lancaster Leadership. She also runs and operates her own coaching business, Habit Designer, a coaching and consulting company working with individuals and employers for improved outcomes in health, wellness, company culture, team cohesiveness, and strategic planning. Katie believes that her purpose in life is to aid others in rising to their occasion.

Katie received her BA in Psychology and her BS in Criminal Justice from NAU graduating with Honors. She then went on to receive her Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

For almost 10 years Katie worked with Northern Arizona Public Employee Benefit Trust as a Wellness Program Manager. During her time there, she was awarded the Gold award through the Wellness Council of Arizona for achievement in measurable outcomes and leadership buy- in, and the Platinum award through Health Arizona Worksites for measurable outcomes and program design.

When Katie saw a need for rehabilitation services for people in the prison system, she co- founded the non-profit Base Camp to help the community Early in her career, Katie was a manager at a rehabilitation center for girls 11 to 17 years old. She led them on outdoor adventures to build confidence and coached them on empowering themselves by stepping out of the victim role and identifying where they have control and influence.

90% of Katie’s coaching clients through her personal business are women. Katie helps women of all ages gain clarity on their personal goals, identify paths toward their goals, and troubleshoot the obstacles that arise. She has been a role model, leader, and strong supporter in helping women reach their fullest potential.

Marti Neff North Country HealthCare

Marti Neff is the Chief Operations Officer at North Country HealthCare. She is responsible for expansion and implementation of new services and healthcare facilities in 12 rural Arizona communities. Prior to working at North Country HealthCare, she was the clinic manager of the Family Healing Center. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Public Management and a Master of Arts degree with an emphasis in Leadership, both from NAU.

Throughout her career Marti has demonstrated excellence by developing and mentoring female professionals throughout North Country HealthCare and our communities. She has shown remarkable initiative, both in pursuing and graduating with her bachelor’s and master’s later in her career.

Marti has mentored and supported young women and their families during difficult times in official roles as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) with everything from food drives to managing grief and illness. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, and as a member of LDS: Young Women’s President for girls aged 12-18, and the Women’s Relief Society.

Marti always seeks to take care of those less fortunate and finds ways to provide food or buy a meal for a person experiencing homelessness. She encourages others, particularly women, to complete their degree and pursue further education and skillsets. She has even been known to purchase new books to expose young minds to new areas. In the last six months, Marti helped a young mother set up a budget and encouraged her to develop independence and self-efficacy in taking care of her household and building a future. She has mentored young women and professionals in church as well as guided and supported the professional development of women at North Country HealthCare.

Miranda Sweet Rainbow’s End

Miranda Sweet is the Owner of Rainbow’s End, a boutique women’s clothing store, located in downtown Flagstaff. Miranda created Rainbow's End from the ground up almost 22 years ago with the vision that it would become a community asset and more than just a clothing store. Today, Rainbow’s End has become a gathering space, a place to mentor artists on how to create and launch locally made products, and a place to help our younger generation in learning what it means to have a job and have that sense of responsibility. Miranda volunteers her time to mentor students from Flagstaff High and NAU, cultivating a strong work ethic, assisting them on résumé building techniques, as well as what it means to have a sense of place among the workforce.

Miranda was elected to the Flagstaff City Council and became Vice Mayor in 2022. She continually shows the desire to give back to Flagstaff, serving on several Boards and Commissions within the City of Flagstaff organization.

Miranda received her BS in Elementary Education from NAU. She is dedicated to the Flagstaff community. Giving back by volunteering and working with several non-profits has always been a focus. She has served as PTO President at Puente de Hozho, Board Member of the Flagstaff Leadership Program, Leader in the Boy Scouts of America-young women troop , and was Co-Founder and Board Member of the Flagstaff Women’s Film Festival.

For several years working with young women on career development and workforce training has been a priority within the structure of Rainbow's End. Through the years Miranda has mentored several groups of young women through all her roles in the community and continues to come up with innovative ways to do so.

Patty Hansen has been serving as Coconino County Recorder since 2012. She is a dedicated public servant, having worked in election administration for over 35 years. As the County Recorder she is responsible for public records, voter registration, and early voting. Under Patty’s leadership she has expanded the Native American Elections Outreach Program, made voting more accessible, and ensured safe and secure elections. From serving on the board of the Arizona Association of Counties representing various seats, to speaking at national conferences and her work training others, Patty’s commitment is to help people, protect our access to democracy, and ensure accessibility and equality for all.

Patty is a fierce advocate for voting rights viewing elections as the way to determine the will of the governed and a critical feature of democracy. She has been active in increasing the involvement of women in exercising their right to vote, ensuring safe and secure elections, and has been recognized for her leadership, innovation, and work in elections on both a local and national level.

In addition to her extensive roles in elections, Patty has dedicated her time to training those interested running for office and leading their campaigns. She has helped provide guidance, training, and resources to many who have ran for office, including local City and County candidates, as well as staff working on legislative races.

Patty has inspired many women around her, both personally and professionally. She understands what it takes to create a better tomorrow and is not afraid to help guide others. She goes the extra mile to help women achieve their dreams and be their best self.

Outside of work, Patty enjoys living and working in the mountains of Arizona with its wonderful cultural diversity and geography, spoiling her two bulldogs, and traveling.

Athena, the Greek Goddess, exemplifies confidence and compassion – two words that perfectly describe the leadership of Paula Gilbert. Paula is the Branch Manager at OneAZ Credit Union’s Flagstaff Branch. Paula leads her team with a gentle confidence that pushes them to bring their best thinking forward to provide the best member experience. Her confidence is well earned. With 23 years of experience in banking and finance, Paula is truly an expert in the field. She strives to impart that knowledge onto her team by constantly mentoring new associates, encouraging them to pursue development opportunities, and inspiring them to give back to their community.

As a 14-year resident of Flagstaff, Paula is strongly connected to the community. She has been an avid advocate for animal welfare, a longtime volunteer at High Country Humane and was invited to serve on the Board, allowing her to combine her knowledge and experience in finance with her love of animals. This passion for service was on full display during last year’s fires where she moved swiftly, helping her human and animal neighbors evacuate the fire zone and move to safety.

Paula is an incredible role model for young women. Her leadership demonstrates how compassion and hard work can build both a fulfilling career and a strong connection to one’s community. Through dedicated community service, Paula demonstrates that the most important parts of leadership often take place outside of the workplace. She is an indefatigable servant to the Flagstaff community, taking time on weekends to volunteer and serve multiple organizations, and she encourages her team to get involved, outside of their jobs. Her service to her team, her mentorship to young women, and her dedication to the Flagstaff community are all examples of why she’s a wonderful inspiration for women everywhere.

Chef Rochelle Daniel is the Chef and Owner of Atria Restaurant in Downtown Flagstaff which opened in 2022. A Phoenix native, she first fell in love with northern Arizona while serving as the Executive Chef for the L’Auberge de Sedona Resort. Chef Rochelle designed Atria with a feminine style stimulating a plant and flower filled atrium which represents their foraged ingredients. She wanted an open kitchen concept which really showcases the talent, and connects the guest to the food being prepared. The kitchen serves as the “Heart” of the restaurant and offers a front row seat where customers can watch their fresh, local, and seasonal picks being expertly cooked and plated.

Rochelle studied at Scottsdale Culinary Institute. She was the Executive Chef at the award- winning Fat Ox modern Italian in Scottsdale, was a finalist on the Food Network’s “Chopped Grill Masters”, has been recognized as one of the Valley’s “Top 5 Sous Chefs” by the Arizona Republic, and as “Best Sous Chef” by AZcentral.com. She was also inducted into the Arizona Culinary Hall of Fame in 2017, and has received the James Beard nomination for best emerging chef in the U.S.

At 14 years old, Rochelle started helping out in the kitchen of the country club where her mother worked training professional athletes. She said she fell in love and knew even at that young age that the kitchen would be her home.

Rochelle has had amazing success in a typically male-dominated career as a Chef. She has made Atria truly hers, paying homage to her work and craft even in the smallest details. She is an inspiration to young women everywhere that if you set your sites on something that truly inspires you, work hard, and never let go of your dreams…they can come true.

Ross Schaefer Flagstaff Shelter Services

Under Ross Schaefer’s direction as the Executive Director of Flagstaff Shelter Services, the organization has grown exponentially from a seasonal shelter to a year-round Housing Agency that is moving the needle on ending homelessness in Northern Arizona. Ross has grown the organization’s budget from $300,000 annually to nearly $5 million to accomplish this.

Ross was elected Commissioner, City of Flagstaff Housing Commission in 2019. Fiercely committed to the pursuit of an equitable homeless services system, Ross is a proud member of the Arizona Department of Housing’s Balance of State Social Justice & Racial Equity Committee, and serves as the Co-chair of the Coconino County Local Coalition to End Homelessness.

Ross earned her BS at Virginia Commonwealth University and is pursuing her Master’s in Business Administration at the University of North Carolina. She’s been recognized for numerous accomplishments, the most recent being Arizona Daily Sun named Flagstaff Shelter Services its 2022 Organization of the Year with Ross at the helm, and the Northern Arizona University Commission on Status of Women Community Award.

Because of her groundbreaking work and that of other homeless service leaders, the government made a meaningful financial investment in the purchase and renovation of motel properties nationwide. Ross led the charge on Flagstaff Shelter Services’ purchase of a motel property to better care for vulnerable residents. She has worked tirelessly to support women in her organization, staff and clients. The Motel is a huge step in the right direction. While FSS serves all families of need, the majority of families served are female head-of-households. With the acquisition of the Motel, Flagstaff now has 58 units of non-congregate, private shelter for families. The scale of this expansion is remarkable and will truly change the course of the female head-ofhousehold families for decades to come.

Tasha Vigil Angel’s Care Home Health – Flagstaff

As an Account Executive at Angel’s Care Home Health, Tasha Vigil is able to practice her strong desire of helping those in need of quality healthcare. Tasha goes above and beyond her title of Account Executive to fight for services that may otherwise be denied by an insurance carriers’ limitations. Tasha is also a Real Estate Agent with HomeSmart.

Prior to Angel’s Care Home Health, Tasha worked as a Community Outreach Director for the Bluffs of Flagstaff, a Senior Living Community, where she spent her time promoting the new Senior Living Community.

As Co-Chair for Northern Arizona Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance (NAZADA), Tasha has organized events throughout the community, such as the Cherish the Moments’ walk last year at Buffalo Park, to raise funds and awareness of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. She is also helping build a connection with the Native American population by educating them on the support and services available in and around Flagstaff.

For the last two years Tasha has been a strong Advocate for the Adopt a Grandparent Program, working alongside Maggie’s Hospice. She helped to provide over 300 elderly people with simple gifts that brought joy to their lives for Christmas.

With the determination and positive energy that Tasha brings to the Flagstaff community she is an outstanding example of a Mentor for young women to follow.

Terry Madeksza Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance

When Terry Madeksza decided she was ready to move to a location with four seasons she accepted the position of Executive Director with FDBA in 2015. The impact Terry has made in our downtown has been nothing short of tremendous. She led the FDBA from a volunteer-based program to a professionally managed organization, supporting downtown's 180 small businesses.

Terry earned her BS in Law and Society through The American University, Washington, D.C. and came to Flagstaff with nearly 20 years of experience developing, managing, and leading Downtowns. The three primary focuses of Terry's life are supporting her son, her daughter and our downtown businesses. Her contributions to the community are a direct reflection of these priorities.

Terry is highly engaged with local civic leaders and a knowledgeable resource for them on industry insights and strategies. Her work ensures the continued success of small, locally owned businesses (many women owned) and that Flagstaff continues to be a vibrant community. She has shared her expertise with the next generation of leaders as a speaker on a variety of panels, including Flagstaff Leadership Program, International Downtown Association Regional & Annual Conferences, and Flagstaff Women's Leadership Network.

Given the budget of many Downtown Business Improvement Districts, it’s common for staff to have less experience. Terry embraced this challenge as an opportunity to educate, encourage, mentor, and mold these individuals into confident, successful professionals who thrive in their careers, all while helping them develop their overall skill sets. There are numerous women who worked for her attesting to how Terry had a positive impact on their lives and their careers. As one woman so eloquently put it, "Some people you simply meet over the course of your life, other people change the course of your life…Terry Madeksza is one of the latter.”

Jenny Siess Westside Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Jenny Siess is a Veterinarian and Owner of Westside Veterinary Clinic. She moved to Flagstaff to attend NAU. She fell in love with the mountains, so she made Flagstaff her permanent home. Dr. Siess started working at Westside in 2008 as a veterinary technician where she quickly made the clients and patients her family. After finishing veterinary school at Western University of Health Sciences, it was only natural for Dr. Siess to come “home” to Westside Veterinary Clinic to work as a veterinarian.

Wanting to make a long-term commitment to Westside and Flagstaff, Dr. Siess became the owner of the practice in March 2018. Her concentrations are exotic animal medicine and integrative medicine including acupuncture and herbal medicine. Dr. Siess is at the tail end of a long project to build a brand- new clinic.

Dr. Siess serves as a mentor and role model for her staff. She fosters a work environment of respect, lightheartedness, learning and growth. She regularly offers continuing education opportunities that provide tools to deal with difficult aspects of the job, and works exceedingly hard to create a work environment that is open, compassionate, efficient, and encourages a high standard of professional conduct from her staff.

Over the last two decades, Dr. Siess has shown her commitment to community service by volunteering her time and professional skills to Rural Area Veterinary Services (RAVS), a program that brings veterinary services to underserved rural communities where poverty and geographic isolation make access to animal health care nearly impossible. She also volunteered her surgical skills with The Parker Project, a mobile veterinary clinic that focuses on spay & neuter services.

In her limited free time, Dr. Siess enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, and of course spending time with her husband and their 4 dogs and 5 cats.

Mark Whitcomb

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

How long have you been in the insurance industry?

I spent the first 5 years of my career in the commercial insurance side with a company named Federated Insurance. They insure a number of commercial industries including auto dealerships, equipment dealers, gas stations etc. with many more. I then decided I needed a career change. A friend of my father’s suggested I apply to Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona. I have now been here at Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona for 24 years.

Where do you see the biggest growth potential for your company?

I see growth all over our community. Being in group sales and during my time out and about, whenever I pass a number of businesses, I find myself wondering which health insurance carrier do you offer your employees. What benefit package have you built for your employees to solidify a strong employment offering? Growth is all around us and ready for the taking. If you don’t knock on that door of opportunity, your competition will.

What has been your biggest workplace thrill or accomplishment?

One of the aspects within my role that I truly get a thrill out of is getting out into our community and meeting new people. Networking is huge not only for the success of our businesses, but for ourselves both professionally and personally. Having the ability to reach out and ask other professionals for their unbiased opinion can be an invaluable asset to the success of you and your company.

How do your services enrich the quality of life for your customers and the community?

BCBSAZ has a full suite of wellness programs which we offer to our members. Our wellness program allows our members to explore topics from stress, weight management, diabetes and many more. We strive to promote our wellness programs so that our members experience the best health possible through our wellness programs.

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in your profession?

What a great question. In my profession, the very best advice I could give someone is to study. Take time to sit down and learn what our commercial plan offerings entail. Knowing your product is key to making sure you “Button Up” that sale. Knowing your product is not just key to selling success, but also allows one to service the client quickly and efficiently via the gained knowledge

How would you describe your personal brand? Please explain how you drive your brand in daily business.

I like to keep things real. Being myself and allowing myself to be me, affords me the best opportunity in order to relate to my clients. I like to meet new people and network. I feel it’s key to anyone’s business success. Using my sense of humor can help alleviate business stressors when dealing with a difficult situation. Humor tends to help calm nerves, allows for a bit of a small break. I find it tends to bring a release of tension so all attending may refocus on the task at hand.

What do you do for fun?

When I’m not in the office, I like to be outside. I like to mountain bike around the trails that surround our wonderful city. My family enjoys camping and we’re planning on making a number of trips this summer. Currently, I’m planning on beginning a journey to learn how to fly an airplane some time this year. Lastly, I really enjoy playing golf. I find that each day brings it’s own new set of challenges…..some good and well some that make you think bowling may be a better option.

If you could have one super power what would it be? Tell us why that ranks #1.

This is an easy one……..flying. If I could have one singe super power it would be the ability to fly. Having the ability to be in the sky and to see this wonderful world from the sky would be something I wouldn’t mind having.

What about Flagstaff makes it the best place for you to live?

As we have seen Flagstaff grow, it still has that small town feeling. Being surrounded by the biggest ponderosa pine forest in the world along with our wonderful mountain, makes Flagstaff the perfect choice to live and enjoy.

To what do you attribute your business success?

My teammates. I would not be where I am today without the guidance and assistance from my teammates. If I didn't have the support from my co-workers, there is no way I would be where I am today. Leaning on others for help can be a hard ask for some, me especially. It wasn’t until I learned that asking for help is not a weakness, but strength was huge for me. I was trying to do things on my own which we all know is almost impossible in today’s fast paced environment. It wasn’t until I learned that asking for help was what was needed to ensure my success within the company.

What is more important for you today than 10 years ago?

Learning that business isn’t all about numbers, it’s about the people behind them. If you take care of your customers and people around you, they will be loyal, and the rest will fall into place.

My number one rule when striving to be greater is…

Sit back and think. I hope we all have the desire to be greater not only in our professional careers but also our personal lives. With today’s crazy world and all that we see going on, I’m working on being better and more kind to others. It doesn’t take a whole lot of energy to be kind to others. These lives of ours are very short and I challenge you with this. No matter what is going on in your world, know that your situation is temporary. The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train, but the light of success knowing you made it through the darkness.

In 10 years, I hope to be...

I’m currently making some plans to retire a couple years early to enjoy the next chapter of life. We would like to travel this wonderful country of ours to see what it holds and has to offer.

City Stormwater Fee Hike Update

Flagstaff’s Mayor & Council decided at the January 31, 2023 council meeting to postpone a decision on the proposed utility rate hike until February 14, 2023 at the request of Councilmember Sweet, supported by Mayor Daggett and Councilmembers Aslan and Matthews.

There are three proposed rate hike scenarios, a moderate fee hike, a large fee hike and a third scenario that would be a maximum fee hike. All fee hikes proposed would significantly raise the utility fee on city water bills over the next five years increasing the fee year over year. The Stormwater utility has expressed capital and maintenance and operation needs of over $90M during this time largely due to the flood impacts of catastrophic wildfires Pipeline, Tunnel and Museum.

The Chamber has counseled city leaders to explore funding elsewhere to minimize any fee increase, and the city leaders have responded. They are seeking an almost $9M state appropriation in the Arizona state budget for FY 23/24, and seeking federal funds from the $925M in Emergency Watershed Protection Act funds via the US Dept. of Agriculture. Understanding that the needs are not necessarily long-term, the Chamber has asked Mayor & Council to also consider sunsetting the fee increases, as capital and operation needs subside after a five-year period.

We will keep you posted on the proposed rate hike.

Minimum Wage Tax Credit

The Chamber has supported Sen. Wendy Rogers SB1108 – a senate bill introduced in the current Arizona legislative session and heard in the Senate Finance Committee on January 30, 2023. The bill, if passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor, would allow businesses operating in Arizona municipalities who have a local wage mandate higher than the state minimum wage to have a 10% tax credit on the difference in wages paid above the . Currently, Arizona’s minimum wage is $2.95 lower than the Flagstaff minimum wage.

The bill passed Senate Finance and moves to the full Senate for consideration. If the bill passes the full Arizona Senate, the bill will be forwarded onto the Arizona House of Representatives for further consideration. If the bill passes the state house without being amended, the bill will go to the Governor for her signature or veto.

Chamber Day at the Arizona Legislature

Join us for Chamber Day at the Arizona Legislature Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 9:00 am at the Arizona Capitol. Meet your legislators and learn about the importance of business advocacy at the Arizona Legislature. $65.00 per person, including lunch. For more information, please contact the Chamber directly at (928) 774-4505, or email jgalli@flagstaffchamber.com.