Valley of the Sun United Way has welcomed eight prominent Arizona leaders to its Board of Directors, adding significant experience in business, law, finance, health care, higher education, government, real estate and community service as the organization continues its 100th anniversary celebration and looks toward its next century of impact.
The new board members are Shirley Baum, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Pinnacle West Corporation and Arizona Public Service Company; Andrew Cheney, Principal at Lee & Associates Arizona; Byron Sarhangian, Partner at Snell & Wilmer; Stephen Johnson, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of BOK Financial Private Wealth; Warren Whitney, Chief Administrative Officer of Valleywise Health; Mary Noor, Phoenix Market Executive for Bank of America; Ed Zuercher, Phoenix City Manager; and Katie Paquet, Vice President and Secretary of the University at Arizona State University.
“Valley of the Sun United Way has always been strongest when we bring together leaders with different experiences, expertise and perspectives around a shared commitment to our community,” said Carla Vargas Jasa, President and CEO of Valley of the Sun United Way. “These eight leaders bring tremendous knowledge, relationships and a deep commitment to Arizona. Their leadership comes at an important time as we celebrate 100 years of impact and focus on how we can work together to build a stronger, more resilient community for the next 100 years.”
Latasha Causey, President of Phoenix Raceway and Chair of the Valley of the Sun United Way Board of Directors, said the new board members will add valuable perspectives as United Way continues to strengthen its role as a community convener.
“Our board reflects the diversity and strength of the community we serve,” Causey said. “They each bring unique expertise and a demonstrated commitment to making Arizona a better place. I’m excited to welcome them and look forward to the leadership they will provide as United Way continues bringing businesses, nonprofits, government and community leaders together to create lasting change.”
New Board Members:
Shirley Baum is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for Pinnacle West Corporation and its primary subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, Arizona’s largest energy provider. She oversees the companies’ legal affairs, ethics and corporate secretary functions and has extensive experience in corporate, regulatory, environmental, labor and employment matters. Baum is a certified public accountant and attorney and currently serves on the board of the Sandra Day O’Connor Institute for American Democracy.
Andrew Cheney, a second-generation Arizonan, is a Principal at Lee & Associates Arizona specializing in the representation of landlords and tenants in the Phoenix office real estate market. He has held leadership roles with NAIOP Arizona, including serving as the organization’s 2018 chapter chairman, and currently serves on its board and executive committee. Cheney also has a long history with Valley of the Sun United Way, previously serving on its Legal & Real Estate Committee and MC2026 Campaign Cabinet.
Byron Sarhangian is a Partner at Snell & Wilmer and Chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group and Opportunity Zone Industry Group. His practice includes corporate relocations and expansions, real estate transactions, construction agreements and sophisticated domestic and international real estate matters. Sarhangian serves on the Arizona NAIOP board and the Whispering Hope Ranch Foundation board and is a founding member of Valley of the Sun United Way’s Bench & Bar program.
Stephen Johnson is Senior Vice President and Managing Director of BOK Financial Private Wealth, where he oversees the strategic development and delivery of the company’s Private Wealth Advisors. He joined BOK Financial following a 35-year career at BMO, where he held senior leadership positions including president of BMO Wealth Management for the Midwest & Rockies Division and president of BMO’s Arizona bank. Johnson has extensive community leadership experience, including previous board service with Valley of the Sun United Way and leadership roles with several charitable organizations.
Warren Whitney is Chief Administrative Officer of Valleywise Health, where he oversees government affairs, real estate, construction planning and development, marketing and communications, and support services for the community’s public teaching hospital and safety-net health system. Whitney is a longtime United Way leader, having previously served on the organization’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee from 2000 to 2014 and as chair of the Community Impact Committee. He currently serves on several community and nonprofit boards, including Valleywise Health Foundation, Maricopa County Community Colleges Foundation and Keys to Change.
Mary Noor is Phoenix Market Executive for Bank of America, where she leads the bank’s local market activities and helps connect businesses, families and individuals with the company’s resources and services. She also oversees employee engagement and community partnerships, sponsorships and philanthropy. Noor previously served as Bank of America’s market executive in Ventura/Santa Barbara before moving to Phoenix.
Ed Zuercher is City Manager of the City of Phoenix, overseeing the nation’s largest council-manager form of government, including approximately 14,500 city employees and a multibillion-dollar annual budget. Zuercher returned to the position in November 2025 after previously serving as Phoenix city manager from 2013 to 2021 and as executive director of the Maricopa Association of Governments. He brings more than three decades of local government experience and has been recognized for his leadership in financial management, innovation and regional collaboration.
Katie Paquet is Vice President and Secretary of the University at Arizona State University. She has held senior leadership roles at ASU focused on university affairs, communications and community engagement and previously served as vice president of public affairs and external relations for the Arizona Board of Regents, where she worked with policymakers, business and civic leaders and the educational community.
The eight appointments add to a board that includes leaders from some of Arizona’s most prominent businesses and organizations. The board provides strategic oversight, champions Valley of the Sun United Way’s mission and helps strengthen the partnerships that support lasting community impact.
The new board members join as Valley of the Sun United Way celebrates its 100th anniversary and continues to evolve its role as a convener and catalyst for collaboration across four interconnected areas: education, housing and homelessness, health, and workforce development.
“As we enter our second century, our opportunity is bigger than any one organization,” Vargas Jasa said. “It is about bringing the right people together, aligning resources and creating the conditions for our entire community to thrive. We are fortunate to have leaders like these willing to lend their time, expertise and influence to that work.”
