CGA, Inc.

                          Chair

                           Vice-Chair

                  Secretary/Treasurer 

                    Board Member

                 Board Member 

                     Board Member 

                    Board Member 

                  VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

 A lifelong resident of Alaska, of Alutiiq Sugpiaq and Dena’ina heritage, an Alaska Native enrolled in the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, René was raised in a commercial salmon fishing family, whose Elders shared lessons of hard work, ethical behavior and an immense passion for their culture, gifts that René has shared with her three adult children and three grandchildren.

After a career in commercial and mortgage banking and working for various non-profits in Alaska, René began a 26-year career with the University of Alaska where she developed and delivered curriculum for the mining and petroleum industries at a remote underground and surface mine facility in Interior Alaska.   René received accolades from the U.S. Department of Labor and Education Northwest. Additionally, René was recognized by receiving the highest honor (Spotlight Award) from the University of Alaska’s President.

René and her husband, Michael purchased a home 15 years ago in the Casa Grande area. 

        YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST    

                 AMERICORPS MEMBER

Iyannah currently serves as an AmeriCorps member through the Northern Arizona University – Civic Service  Institute Arizona Ready for College AmeriCorps program. She supports middle and high school SADD chapters and provides youth and parents college and career mentoring.

Iyannah is a senior at Vista Grande High School and is heavily involved in school activities and in her community.  She plans on pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing followed by joining the military. In her free time, she dances on a varsity team at a local dance studio.

To learn more about the Arizona Ready for College and Career AmeriCorps program, please visit   https://in.nau.edu/civic-service-institute/az-ready-for-college-and-career-americorps/  

                                FINANCE

Mary has worked in the non-profit financial management field for 35 years and operates a part-time bookkeeping business which began for the Casa Grande Alliance in October, 2008.  She is currently a commissioner for the Eloy Housing Authority and is a school board member for the Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT).  She is an active member of her church and spends her personal time with her three grandchildren or her fur babies, American Bully dogs and puppies. 

                   OPERATIONS MANAGER 

Greta is a resident of Casa Grande for over 25 years and moved here from India. She is married and has 2 boys. Greta and her husband have served as pastors for  Redemption Church in Casa Grande since 2009.  When she is not working or helping out at the church she enjoys camping, fishing and going on long drives. She speaks Hindi, Marathi and Konkani. She is passionate to make a difference in the community. She enjoys being part of Casa Grande Alliance because of the great work that CGA does in the Casa Grande and the neighboring cities.  

           STRONG FAMILIES INSTRUCTOR

 Corey is a graduate of Kutztown University with a Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education. He earned his Masters degree from Wilkes University in Instructional Media and Technology. He moved to Arizona from Pennsylvania, 14 years ago to start a career in education at Casa Grande Middle School as a 7th and 8th grade Social Studies teacher. A job he continues and loves even to this day.  This will be then ninth year that Corey has helped to facilitate Strong Families for the CG Alliance. 

              STRONG FAMILIES INSTRUCTOR

 Dawn Huffman has been a Strong Family Facilitator with the Casa Grande Alliance for the last 9 years. Dawn is also an assistant principal at Cactus Middle School.  Dawn truly enjoys working with adolescents and their families.  She is a strong believer in the power of effective communication and the importance in developing positive relationships within the family structure.  She finds the Strong Family Program supports her beliefs and assists families during the middle school years.  Dawn is the proud mother of two adult sons and all live in Casa Grande. 

        FAMILY SUPPORT COORDINATOR  

Martha currently coordinates Family Support Programs.   She is a graduate of Seattle University and studied Social Work as her undergraduate degree. Martha moved from Seattle to Arizona for the opportunity to work with CGA as an AmeriCorps member.  She spends her time exploring the natural beauty that this region provides. 

                       SPECIAL PROJECTS

                   AMERICORPS MEMBER 

Kacee originally hails from Montana and is a Senior at Vista Grande High School.  She is active in SADD, plays Varsity Tennis and has had the experience of competing in Swine Showmanship. with 4H.  When she graduates, she intends to pursue a degree in Child Psychiatry. 

 To learn more about the Arizona Ready for College and Career AmeriCorps program, please visit   https://in.nau.edu/civic-service-institute/az-ready-for-college-and-career-americorps/  

                   EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Bob currently serves as the Executive Director of the Casa Grande Alliance.  He has also been elected to the Board of the Arizona Adverse Childhood Experiences Consortium and is a certified ACEs Trainer.

In the past, Bob has served three Arizona Governors as the Executive Director of the Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism and then the AmeriCorps Director and served as the Membership Chair for America’s Service Commissions. 

Prior that, he worked in eastern Pinal County for the Mammoth-San Manuel Schools, first as an eighth-grade teacher and then as the Director of the Community Schools programs.  Over the years, he has served on many boards that worked with youth leadership, behavioral health, and prevention.  Bob is an active Rotarian and has led strategic thinking events for clubs across Arizona.  

He earned his Masters in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University in 2001 

                 PREVENTION SPECIALIST

Nicole helps acquire local data, provides presentations, manages grant reporting, and helps the agency with media output. Nicole was accredited as a Level 1 Arizona Credential Prevention Professional in 2015 for her continued education and work experience. Nicole is from Casa Grande and married her high school sweetheart. They now have two young girls together and are excited to raise their family in their hometown.  

           YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST    

                AMERICORPS MEMBER

Samantha is originally from Bryan, Texas but moved to Arizona at the young age of seven to become closer with family. She is currently serving under AmeriCorps and is going into her Senior year at Casa Grande Union High School. Sam enjoys drawing and writing in her free time, and hopes that her time as an AmeriCorps member will help her further her progress in becoming an elementary school teacher.

To learn more about the Arizona Ready for College and Career AmeriCorps program, please visit   https://in.nau.edu/civic-service-institute/az-ready-for-college-and-career-americorps/