Leadership
Learn more about the passionate leaders of our organization.
United Way belongs to our community, so it is essential that we focus on the issues the community tells us are most important. That’s why we led a year-long community-driven process to develop our MC2026 plan for Mighty Change. The bold goals outlined in MC2026 were not created solely by Valley of the Sun United Way; they are building on existing community goals and we will redeploy our energies and realign our resources, leadership and partners to achieve them.
Board of Directors
Valley of the Sun United Way’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders from throughout our community. As members of the Board, these volunteers are charged with the responsibility of assuring the integrity of our organization by overseeing financial, structural and policy decisions that guide the organization, staff and volunteers.
Officers
Latasha Causey, Chair
President
Phoenix Raceway
Matt Byrnes, Vice Chair
SVP, Proprietary Brands and Sourcing
PetSmart
Ruben E. Alvarez, Secretary
Co-Founder and Managing Partner
Molera Alvarez
Dave Long, Treasurer
Community Leader
directors
Robyn Arnell Brenden
Chief Accounting Officer
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
Tracy Bame
President
Freeport-McMoRan Foundation
Director, Social Responsibility
Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
Jeff Barton
City Manager
City of Phoenix
Paula Boca-Bommarito
AVP, Enterprise Brand & Community Strategy
CopperPoint Insurance Companies
Lee Ann Bohn
Chief Operating Officer
Maricopa Community College District
Angie Bond-Simpson
Senior Director, Resource Management
Salt River Project (SRP)
Rebecca Burleigh
Vice President, Corporate Services
EPCOR USA
Lisa D. Cagnolatti
Community Leader
Chris Camacho
President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Economic Council
Patrick Edwards
Vice President, Regional Manager
Burns & McDonnell
Matt Feeney
Firm Chair, Phoenix
Snell & Wilmer
Sabrina Freiberg
Vice President P&C Sales Business Solutions
Nationwide
Greg Geist
Managing Director, Southwest Commercial Banking Head
BMO Commercial Bank
Chad Gestson, Ed.D.
Executive Director, AZ Institute for Education and the Economy
Northern Arizona University
Neil Giuliano
President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Leadership
John W. Graham
Chairman and CEO
Sunbelt Holdings
Jenny Holsman Tetreault
Vice President and Associate General Counsel
TPI Composites
James M. Macdonald, III
Managing Director
JPMorganChase
Amanda Muir
Principal, Education Savings, Retail Investor Group
Vanguard
Tyler Pfeifer
Director, Strategic Partner Alliances and Business Optimization
Insight
Jen Pokorski
County Manager
Maricopa County
Adam Reich
Partner
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Todd Sanders
President and CEO
Greater Phoenix Chamber
Ray Schey
Market President and Publisher
Phoenix Business Journal
Brad Smith (H)
Partner
Deloitte
Kyle Steinbuch
Regional President and Head of Corporate Banking for Arizona
PNC Bank
Lauren Tobiassen
Senior Vice President | Region Executive Arizona/Nevada Preferred
Bank of America
Monica Villalobos
President and CEO
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Daniel G. Wani, Esq.
Market Leader, Arizona and Nevada
U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management
Monica Whiting
Vice President, Customer Experience and Communications
Arizona Public Service Company (APS)
Christine Wilkinson
Senior Vice President/Secretary of the University
Arizona State University
(H) = Indicates Honorary Member
Executive Team
Carla Vargas Jasa
President and CEO
Carla Vargas Jasa grew up learning that to achieve “Bold Goals,” you must be willing and dedicated to creating “Mighty Change.” Her parents were the perfect teachers. As a student in Paraguay, her father protested against his country’s dictatorship and was consequently jailed and tortured. After her family relocated to the United States, it was her mother—while continuing to support her father’s activism—who raised Carla, teaching her English first knowing it was unlikely they would be able to return to their home country. Her parents’ dedication for human rights, equity and democracy endured and they passed this passion onto their daughter.
Carla joined Valley of the Sun United Way in 2019 as the first female and Latina leader of the organization, which serves the more than 4.5 million people of Maricopa County and is among the largest United Ways in the United Way global network. In her first year, she led the nonprofit’s local response to COVID-19, rallying donors and uniting the nonprofit community. In just weeks, more than $3 million was raised, along with acquiring millions in PPE and $800,000 in gifts-in-kind, which was all swiftly put back into the communities where the need was greatest. During that same time, Carla launched Valley of the Sun United Way’s Diversity, Equity, Access and Inclusion initiative, co-led by staff and board members.
With an eye to the long-term needs that existed prior to and were exacerbated by the pandemic, Carla and her team launched an MC2026 plan for Mighty Change in Maricopa County. Introduced in 2021, the plan was developed from community surveys, townhalls and listening sessions and focuses on achieving bold community goals across four strategic priorities—Education, Housing and Homelessness, Health and Workforce Development—while addressing the systemic barriers to diversity, equity, access and inclusion that make these issues so pervasive.
Carla’s leadership is highly recognized in the Valley. She was honored as part of PHOENIX magazine’s The Great 48 Class of 2024. In 2023, Carla was named “Woman of the Year” by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2021, she was named one of the Phoenix Business Journal’s Most Admired Leaders and Valley of the Sun United Way was selected for the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Community Champion IMPACT Award. And in 2020, she was recognized as a “Leader of the Year” by the Arizona Capitol Times and named among the “Most Influential Women in Arizona Business” by AZ Big Media. That year, Valley of the Sun United Way also received the largest gift in its nearly 100-year history, $25 million from MacKenzie Scott.
Prior to coming to the Valley, Carla held several leadership roles with Orange County United Way, where she guided the development of FACE 2024, a 10-year strategic community impact plan driven by measurable community goals. She also guided the launch of United to End Homelessness, a community-wide response that brought new and innovative public-private partnerships to Southern California.
She’s no stranger to Arizona. Carla spent her early childhood in Tucson where her father taught at the University of Arizona. She and her parents also lived in Mexico and California. Carla earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Steve, and her Boston terrier, Ellie; hiking in the Arizona desert; cheering on Valley sports teams; and exploring new wineries north and south of the border.
“Carla is the leader we need right now, not only for United Way, but for our entire community. It is an honor for me to have the opportunity to work with her.”
– John Graham, Chairman & CEO, Sunbelt Holdings
Valley of the Sun United Way Board of Directors
Christine Sullivan
Chief Financial Officer
Christine Sullivan has been an integral part of the finance team at Valley of the Sun United Way for nearly a decade. Through her more than 15 years serving the nonprofit sector, Christine holds a strong focus on supporting underserved and under-resourced individuals and families throughout the community.
Christine has experience working with domestic violence shelters and homeless shelters in the Valley, including New Life Center and UMOM. Her work is guided by her personal experience of being a young mother and the first in her family to earn a college degree. Having an immigrant mother and understanding the importance of equal opportunities, Christine is passionate about ensuring everyone in our community has access to the same opportunities that shaped her own life.
Christine started her career as a nonprofit case manager directly supporting families to find safe and affordable housing. Over time, she transitioned into accounting, ultimately leading to her varying roles at Valley of the Sun United Way that have strategically contributed to the long-term financial health of the organization.
A proud Arizona native, Christine earned an MBA with an emphasis in accounting from Grand Canyon University and also received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arizona State University. She was honored as a 2023 Arizona Controller of the Year by FEI Arizona.
Outside of her role at United Way, Christine is a dedicated community member, passionately giving back to the West Valley alongside her three children and fiancé, who also happens to be her high school sweetheart.
“Working with Valley of the Sun United Way allows me to help make a meaningful difference for others.”
– Christine Sullivan
Tamera Skrovan
Chief of Staff and Executive Communications
For more than a decade, Tamera Skrovan has been an integral part of Valley of the Sun United Way. Throughout her career, Tamera has held both marketing and donor impact positions, dedicating her work to creating and deepening relationships between nonprofits and their communities.
Tamera dedicated the first part of her career connecting consumers to global brands in the retail, telecommunications and sports industries. Twenty years ago, she transitioned into the nonprofit space, helping build the brands of some of the top nonprofits, including the American Red Cross, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International and United Way. Through this expansive range of experiences, Tamera has become a strong advocate for the power of collaboration.
Tamera holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from Iowa State University. Her education and expertise have been a guiding factor for her ability to foster partnerships, aligning her with Valley of the Sun United Way’s mission to bring partners together to create solutions for the Valley’s most pressing needs.
When she’s not representing United Way in the community, Tamera enjoys exploring Arizona’s hiking trails, reading a vast number of books and traveling with her family.
“I believe collaboration is a superpower and no organization brings people together in ways that impact individual lives and entire communities better than United Way.”
– Tamera Skrovan
Emma Garcia
Chief Community Development and Engagement Officer
Emma Garcia is a seasoned corporate social responsibility executive and social impact strategist with a proven track record of delivering meaningful and measurable results through strategic planning efforts and transformative initiatives in corporate and philanthropic giving, stakeholder engagement, fundraising, program design, collaborative impact, advocacy and communications.
With a passion for servant leadership and a commitment to driving positive change, as Chief Community Development and Engagement Officer, Emma leads the implementation of Valley of the Sun United Way’s five-year strategic plan and impact agenda for Mighty Change, or MC2026, and oversees major and individual donor engagement strategies.
Emma holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and she has honed her expertise through additional education, including a Nonprofit Executive Leadership Certificate from Arizona State University’s Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation and a Sustainability Certificate from Harvard Business School Online. Her leadership has been recognized through numerous awards, including the Phoenix Business Journal’s Philanthropist of the Year and Diversity Champion Award.
Emma is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals and a volunteer board and advisory council member for several nonprofit organizations. She is the proud mom of three adult children, and in her spare time, she enjoys cooking traditional Mexican meals and exploring the many Arizona hiking trails with her husband.
Laura Kaiser
Chief Corporate Relations and Brand Officer
Driven by her dedication to serving the people of her hometown and a passion for mobilizing the caring spirit of the Valley’s corporate community, Laura Kaiser directs the corporate relations, fundraising, marketing and volunteerism teams with energy and creativity.
In this role, she has successfully spearheaded the development and execution of United Way’s corporate engagement strategy, focusing on driving employee giving, corporate gifts and aligning with the organization’s MC2026 plan for Mighty Change. Laura leads a donor-centric culture to strengthens United Way’s connection with corporate partners and donors while ensuring the community-driven strategic goals are met.
Laura joined United Way in 2008 as a corporate development officer and through her career has grown her impact by leading the development of the organization’s affinity groups, guiding the development of volunteerism, leading marketing’s shift to digital strategies and donor communications, and most recently, growing corporate campaigns by focusing on the corporate social responsibility goals of its partners.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Arizona and in her spare time enjoys heading out to the fields with her husband to cheer on their son in flag football or baseball.
Shelley Griffin
SVP, Information Technology and Analytics
Shelley Griffin is an industry expert with over 20 years of experience in leading operations and information technology teams. She joined Valley of the Sun United Way nearly a decade ago and has played a fundamental role in advancing technology and ensuring the digital security of the organization.
Through the years, Shelley has held key leadership roles at Valley of the Sun United Way, including business systems analyst and project manager, vice president of business systems and analytics, as well as vice president of information technology before assuming her current role as senior vice president of information technology and analytics.
Shelley holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology and an associate’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Phoenix. She was also honored as a 2024 Arizona CIO finalist at the annual Arizona ORBIE Awards that recognizes CIOs for driving innovation.
“Valley of the Sun United Way’s comprehensive approach to addressing community needs aligns with my passion for using technology to create lasting, positive change. By working with United Way, I am fortunate to contribute to impactful initiatives that improve lives and strengthen our community.”
– Shelley Griffin
TRACY BONJEAN
VP, PEOPLE AND CULTURE
With over 25 years of experience, Tracy Bonjean brings forward an expertise and passion for designing, implementing and improving innovative human resources practices that foster a sense of community and culture to advance the mission of Valley of the Sun United Way.
Holding senior-level HR roles throughout her career, Tracy has significant experience in recruiting, employee relations and organizational development. She has worked within a variety of industries on local, national and international levels, specializing in employee culture and retention strategies. Tracy is also an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Tracy holds a bachelor’s degree in organization communication with a minor in statistics from the University of Colorado. When she is not working, she spends her time at the gym or with her family and dog.
“I love human resources and the staff at Valley of the Sun United Way are some of the best I have encountered. I love our mission and our staff that works toward it every single day.”
– Tracy Bonjean
