Board of Directors
President
Kelle Maslyn
Executive Director, Community & Corporate Engagement – ASU Tucson
Arizona State University
Kelle Maslyn is executive director of community & municipal relations for the Office of Government & Community Engagement in Arizona State University’s Tucson office where she promotes ASU’s relationships and interactions with key business groups, elected officials and decision makers in cities and towns across Pima County. She also focuses on Sun Corridor megaregion initiatives linking the Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. She serves on the board of directors of Sun Corridor, Inc., the Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, Greater Tucson Leadership and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson. In addition she participates on the Tucson Chamber’s Public Affairs Council, the Pima Association of Governments Economic Vitality Committee, DM50 and the Regional Transportation Authority citizen’s commission. Kelle also works closely with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and the Oro Valley, Marana and Tucson Hispanic chambers of commerce.
President-Elect
Karyn Damschen
Owner/Co-founder
Damschen Group, LLC
A native Tucsonan and former University of Arizona Wildcat, Karyn is committed to providing education and advocacy for women about financial as well as health issues. She has been a driving force in creating a Wealth Solutions and Life Planning initiative designed by women for women.
For over 20 years she has dedicated herself to community service in numerous Tucson organizations including the American Heart Association, the Girl Scouts, and Pima Council on Aging. A 2014 Greater Tucson Leadership graduate, she continues working with each year’s attendees and community leaders.
Karyn is fully licensed in all areas of insurance and helps clients take the mystery out of Social Security and Medicare planning as well as life, health, annuity and long-term care strategies. She is the owner of the Damschen Group, LLC, and we’re happy to have her here collaborating with us here at Rincon Financial Group, LLC.
Karyn loves to spend time with her two grown children, Cassady and Garrison, in addition to kick-boxing, going to the beach, and reading.
Secretary
Kathleen Brown
Founder/Principal
Brown + Associates LLC
Kathleen Brown is the principal at Brown + Associates, LLC, a virtual marketing, communications, PR, and events group based in Tucson, Arizona. A Colorado native, Brown has 25 years of experience driving communications initiatives in software/technology, environmental health and safety, veterinary medicine, higher education, nonprofits, and law enforcement/public safety. For the last 16 years she’s focused on driving marketing, business development, and legislative initiatives related to the use of substance abuse monitoring technologies on criminal offenders, and she is a subject matter expert on criminal justice reform, drunk driving, and the intersection of alcohol misuse and crime. She has served for five years on the board of directors for the Public Relations Society of America and was a member of the Greater Tucson Leadership graduating class of 2017. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Arizona (Go Wildcats!), with minors in Journalism and Music Education.
Treasurer
Jason Cook
Event Coordinator
Tucson Metro Chamber
Immediate Past President
Kevin Kaplan
VP of Marketing & Technology
Long Realty Company
Kevin Kaplan is the Vice President of Marketing and Technology at Long Realty Company, southern Arizona’s leading real estate company and a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Since joining Long Realty in 2008, Kevin has been recognized as an industry leader and innovator. Kevin has over 19 years of experience in the real estate industry in marketing, technology and business management. Kevin is a Board Director for the MLS of Southern Arizona, a Board Director and President for the Cascade Foundation of Southern Arizona, and a Board Director and President-Elect for Greater Tucson Leadership.
Director
Jose Arias
Vice President, Business Banker
First Citizens Bank
Jose is a Business Banker & Vice-President at First Citizens Bank. He helps Tucson business owners grow by providing banking solutions, financing for working capital, commercial real estate, equipment, business and practice acquisitions, treasury management and more. Jose started his banking career in 2006 after graduating from the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and is also on the Board of Directors for Tucson Youth Development.
Director
Ben Casey
Administrative Attorney
Pascua Yaqui Judicial Branch
As the Administrative Attorney, Mr. Casey is responsible for the day to day operations of the Judicial Branch of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. This includes all aspects of the court’s fiscal administration, case flow management, technology and systems administration and supervision of all Court divisions (Clerks, Security, Bailiffs, Probation & Pretrial Services). Mr. Casey acts as the intergovernmental liasion to other branches of tribal and non-tribal governmental agencies and divisions in order to promote collaboration and integration of systems while maintaining the integrity of the Court as a separate but equal branch of government. He is also responsible for the management of the Pascua Yaqui Bar and is the lead instructor for the Judicial Branch’s attorney and lay advocate certification program as well as the Judicial Branch online certification course. Mr. Casey also works with the Citizen Diplomacy Alliance in conjunction with the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Program to host monthly comparative justice forums with foreign leaders, specialists and scholars from around the world. Prior to working for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Mr. Casey was both a Partner and an Associate at law firms where he provided general and special consultation services to Indian Tribes and Tribal agencies.
Director
Lisa Lewis
Director of Business Development
Learfield IMG College-Arizona Athletics
Lisa Lewis is a Tucson Native who joined her current position at UofA/IMG in October 2013 as an Account Executive. Lisa graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo where she also played Division 1 Basketball. Lisa is a mother of 2 and enjoys outdoor activities like camping, fishing, and riding ATV’s with her husband, kids and extended family
Director
Brendan Lyons
Executive Director
LOOK! Save a Life
Brendan Lyons serves as the Executive Director of LOOK! Save A Life. He is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) at the University of Arizona, where he serves as the President of the Public Affairs Student Association for the School of Government and Public Policy. In addition, he volunteers his time an Honorary Commander at Davis-Monthan AFB and for the Red Shoe Society with the Ronald McDonald House. Brendan has served Southern Arizona as a Firefighter/EMT. In 2013, he became a trauma survivor while bicycling on his day off; he was struck from behind by a distracted motorist at 45mph. Since then, Lyons has worked tirelessly with local elected officials to get the recent “hands-free” ordinances passed for the Town of Oro Valley, Pima County and the City of Tucson. He continues to advocate for the passage of a statewide law. Brendan has been named “Hometown Hero” by Davis Monthan Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, honored as one of Tucson’s 40 Under 40, has been named “Dedication-Recipient” and “Man-of-the-Year” for El Tour de Tucson and continues to be a stand-out in this community.
Director
Karen Mattull
COO of Internal Operations
BeachFleischman PC
Karen Mattull is the Chief Operating Officer, Internal Operations for BeachFleischman PC. She is responsible for the strategic alignment of Human Resources functions within the firm’s overall mission and culture. Additionally, she is responsible for the daily operations of the firm including billing, collections, and administration. Through national, regional and local speaking engagements Karen regularly provides expert commentary and specializes in issues related to employee relations, workplace culture, recruiting, wellness, HR compliance, training and organizational development. Karen has also been published in national and local media outlets on human resources topics, issues and trends that impact employers and employees alike. Karen has a master’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and her bachelor’s degree in Business Management. She also holds her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications.
Director
Robert Medler
Vice President
Tucson Metro Chamber
Growing up an Army kid, Robert lived across the U.S. and Western Europe. While attending the U of A, he found his calling with policy and politics. After a short stint interning with a U.S. Senator, Robert came to the Chamber in 2007. He has focused primarily on public policy and politics within local, state, federal and international governments. Robert is also heavily involved with numerous Chamber of Commerce industry professional associations and boards.
Director
Jennifer Turner
Development Director
NPH USA
Falling in love with service as a volunteer, Jennifer Turner realized early on where her passion lies. With over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, Jennifer has worked in philanthropy with a variety of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Club and Easter Seals. Her expertise spans board development, donor stewardship, major gifts, project management and diversification of revenue. With passion driving her focus, Jennifer served in the Peace Corps in ’98 and recently accepted a position with NPH USA ~ Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos as a Development Officer combining both her love for international impact and philanthropy. Jennifer is a 2013 graduate of the GTL program, has continued to actively volunteer and is honored to join the Board of Directors.
Director
Jessa Turner
Director of Communications
Tech Parks Arizona
Jessa B. Turner manages communication strategies that promote and publicize Tech Parks Arizona and its units: UA Tech Park, UA Tech Park at The Bridges, and the UA Center for Innovation. She is responsible for the development of marketing materials, messaging, and branding. She serves as the media liaison as well as the University of Arizona marketing liaison, for Tech Parks Arizona. She is also an award-winning PR practitioner and has worked for the organization since 2003. Turner earned a BA in economics from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership Program. She is a member of the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) and serves in AURP’s special interest group for public relations. She is also a member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and serves on the PRSA Southern Arizona Board as Past President.
Director
Alicia White
Senior Audit Manager
Keegan Linscott & Associates, PC
Alicia is a Certified Public Accountant with nine years of public accounting experience. As a Senior Manager of Audit Services, Alicia specializes in auditing for not-for-profit entities and private corporations. Industries served include not-for-profit, manufacturing, metals and mining, archeology, construction and engineering entities. Alicia’s auditing experience allows her to take a client-centered, methodical and objective approach to the examination and testing of financial statements, which results in the effective and efficient planning and execution of an audit project that is value added to the client. Alicia has considerable experience in providing audit services to companies in various industries. She also specializes in performing compliance audits in accordance with OMB Circular A-133 – single audits, agreed-upon procedures – special purpose audits, pension plan audits, as well as financial statement reviews and compilations. Alicia holds a Master’s Degree in accounting from the University of Arizona, and has also earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Medaille College in Amherst, NY, as well as a marketing degree from the Richard J. Wehle School of Business in Buffalo, NY. Alicia is actively involved with the Junior League of Tucson, Inc., and is presently on the board of directors of Imago Dei Middle School where she serves as that organization’s Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair. She also serves on the Higher Ground Board of Directors and is a current member of the Tucson Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leaders Council.
