The Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) team is led by dedicated staff with various backgrounds. Our goal is to provide athletes with opportunities, promote awareness, and provide support to the community.
Special Olympics Arizona Staff
Executives
Jamie Heckerman
President and CEO
Laura Forsell
Chief Operating Officer
Doug Taylor
Chief Financial Officer
PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS
Ben Wrubel
Vice President, Programs
Ryan Betcher
Director, Sports & Health
Rubett Garcia
Director, Mountain & Northern Monument Area
Nick Dinsmore
Manager, Four Peaks & Southern Monument Area
Sean Williams
Manager, Palo Verde Area
Sean Whitley
Manager, Coronado Area
Mary Nielsen
Manager, River Area
Thomas Miranda
Manager, Unified Sports
Gianna Zola
Manager, Health & Athlete Leadership
Summer Burgess
Coordinator, Health Programs
Saul Lugo
Coordinator, Athlete Leadership
Payton Bergmann
Sr. Coordinator, Unified Champion Schools
Shelby Evenson
Director, Event Operations
Seamus O'Brennan
Manager, Assets & Equipment
Kyle Garbett
Specialist, Program Operations
DEVELOPMENT & FUNDRAISING
Lisa Ball
Director, Regional Development
Meghan Mullin
Manager, Development
Keri Cordon
Manager, Grants
Tarren Kramer
Coordinator, Donor Relations
Heather Turkes
Sr. Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement
Mike Burnett
Director, Law Enforcement Torch Run
Joe Curran
Coordinator, Law Enforcement Torch Run
Finance & Administration
Mary Christensen
Director, Finance
Kristina Le
Director, Administration
Tiffany Kepney
Specialist, Administration
Rachel K
Coordinator, Administrative
Kim Christensen
Assistant, Program Administrative
Marketing & Communications
Amanda Metcalf, MPH
Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications
Interested in any of our open positions? Apply here!
Board and Councils
Greg Geist | BMO Harris Bank N.A. | Chair
Ben Goetter | Mortenson | Governance Committee Chair
Jeremiah Foster | Resolute Commercial | Finance Committee Chair
David Funkhouser III | Spencer Fane LLP | Fundraising Committee Chair
Sean Conkey | SOAZ Athlete | Athlete Leadership Council Chair
Trisha Larson | Morgan Stanley | Member at Large
Casey Strunk | Strunk Insurance Group, Inc. | Past Chair
DéMario Vaughn | Mercy Care
Phil Calihan III | Leclair Calihan
Mike Dellosa | Arizona Diamondbacks
Jason Ferentheil | UPS
Maria Chavoya | Arizona Complete Health
Laurie Ganzermiller |United Healthcare
Dr. Rena Szabo | Banner Medical Group
Barry Saunders | Community Leader
Mark Witthar | Sanderson Ford
Laurie Rasanen | Voya Financial
LETR Executive Committee
Chief Mike Solberg | Gilbert Police Dept
Lt. Zach Cummard | Chandler Police Dept
Assist Chief Joe LeDuc | Scottsdale Police Dept
Lt. Tony Mapp | Arizona DPS
Cmdr. Doug Steele | Peoria Police Dept
Lt. Bill Peters | Mesa Police Dept.
Chief Peter Wingert | Paradise Valley Police Dept
Director James Collins | Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
Assist Chief Michael Pooley | Tempe Police Dept
LETR Council
Zach Cummard | Chandler PD
Jenny Rubio | Avondale PD
Christina Alonzo | Scottsdale PD
Diana De La Rosa | Gila River PD
Dominac Timpani | U of A PD
Dominique Sterlin | Mesa PD
Ernie Trujillo | AZ DOC (retired)
Holly Dancy | Phoenix PD
Jackie Ruble
Joe LeDuc | Scottsdale PD
Kylie Clore
Luz E Fernandez | Phoenix PD
Olivia Contreras | Avondale PD
Rich Bradshaw | Glendale PD
Ron Gomez | Maricopa County SO
Scott Waite | Glendale PD
Sofia Murta | Maricopa County SO
Theresa Gant | AZ DOC
Coronado
Palo Verde/Four Peaks
Rivers
Mountain
Monument
Coming Soon!
