Board of Directors
President
Alicia White
Chief Financial Officer
La Frontera Center, Inc.
Alicia White is a certified public accountant and currently serves as the CFO at La Frontera Center. 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 Canisius College, the Richard J. Wehle School of Business in Buffalo, NY. Alicia is actively involved in the community, currently serving on the board of directors for Greater Tucson Leadership and United Way of Southern Arizona (“UWSA”). Alicia is a 2016 graduate of Greater Tucson Leadership.
President-Elect
Emilia Eldridge
Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager
University of Arizona
Emilia Eldridge is a fourth generation Tucsonan who grew up in the Sonoita and Patagonia communities in Santa Cruz County. She is currently a Human Resources and Organizational Development Manager at the University of Arizona. Emilia has over 13 years of HR experience and prior to working in higher education, she started her human resources career in early childhood education. She graduated from Greater Tucson Leadership’s 2021 Civic and Political Leadership Academy and was in the Lead Tucson class of 2018.
Emilia holds two degrees from the University of Arizona. As an undergraduate she majored in Business Economics at the Eller College of Management and obtained a master’s degree in public administration.
In 2023, Emilia was awarded the Marlis J. Davis Leadership Award for her superior leadership by portraying a positive image in directing others and leading by example by Parking and Transportation Services at the University of Arizona. She was also Southern Arizona’s 40 under 40 awardee by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Daily Star, and Snell & Wilmer. In 2025, she was named BizTucson Magazine’s NextGen Leader.
Secretary
Lynda Weigel-Firor
Consultant/Grant Writer
Lynda Weigel-Firor has been an independent consultant and grant writer in Tucson for over 25 years. Lynda has helped non-profit organizations raise millions of dollars through capital campaigns, grant funding, special events, sponsorships, and major gift acquisition to help them advance their missions and realize their philanthropic goals.
Lynda is deeply involved in the autism community, currently serving as an Honorary Board Member of the Autism Society of Southern Arizona after six years of active leadership. During her tenure, she chaired the Parent Peer Support Group and Sponsorships for the annual Autism Walk, and represented the organization at the 2018 National Conference in Washington, D.C. She also co-founded and co-led Southern Arizona’s first fully inclusive Girl Scout troop for girls with disabilities for 10 years. Lynda is now focused on developing affordable housing solutions for autistic adults through Promoting Independence.
As a member of the Roots and Roads Task Force, Lynda is collaborating with community leaders to create a dedicated grief center in Tucson that will offer vital support and healing for those navigating loss.
Lynda earned a bachelor’s degree in Personnel Management from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership class of 2022.
Treasurer
Sumi Rowe
Tax Principal
BeachFleischman PLLC
Sumi is a Tax Principal at BeachFleischman where she leads the firm’s Technology & Manufacturing Practice and Large Taxpayer Client Service Team. Sumi has worked in public accounting since 2004 when she graduated from the Eller College of Management at the UofA with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and she is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in Arizona. She provides accounting, tax, and financial statement services for a variety of privately held and publicly traded companies. She enjoys working with her clients and serving as a mentor for young professionals in accounting industry. She was a treasurer for Catalina Foothills School District Foundation from 2022 to 2025 and also a treasurer and board member for Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona from 2016 to 2022.
Immediate Past President
Jose Arias
Vice President, Business Banker
First Citizens Bank
Jose Arias is a Business Banking VP at First Citizens Bank. He 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. His community involvement includes serving as board president for Tucson Youth Development, immediate past board president for Greater Tucson Leadership, and is an Honorary Commander for the 924th Fighter Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Arias is a 2023 Flinn-Brown Fellow and was a 2020 Southern Arizona 40 under 40 awardee by the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Arizona Daily Star, and Snell & Wilmer.
Board Member
Amanda Abens
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning
Pima Community College
As the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning at Pima Community College (PCC), Amanda Abens administers career and technical education programs as well as continuing education and workforce training. Amanda actively works to develop systems and processes to increase responsiveness to business & industry; to pilot new CTE programs and initiatives in entrepreneurial and/or grant-funded settings, and to develop and deploy contract and customized training to meet the needs of business and industry. Amanda is an alumna of the University of Arizona and has her Masters in Counseling from the University of Phoenix. Before joining Pima Community College, she built multi-sector collaborations with the Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Arizona and has over 15 years of experience working with homeless and low income families. Amanda combines her experience in both social service and higher education to bring a unique perspective to workforce development.
Board Member
Zoë Burcham
Marketing Director
Kinghorn Law | Financial
Zoë joined Kinghorn Law | Financial in 2020, bringing over ten years of experience in Marketing, Event Planning and Management, and Business Development to the firm. Zoë is passionate about sharing the importance of estate planning and managing investment risk with clients and the community. As a true people person, Zoë enjoys developing and growing relationships to connect people with one another. Zoë grew up in Illinois and studied Marketing and German at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Zoë enjoys spending time with her family, baking sweet treats to share, and volunteering when she is not out in the community.
Board Member
Greg Curtis Wakefield
Life Potential & Leadership Coach
GregCurtisWakefield.com
Greg is a native Tucsonan, husband and proud girl-Dad. For more than 20 years, he entertained and informed a large variety of audiences as a professional radio and podcast host. He’s also a certified life and leadership coach, musician, event emcee, and eternal optimist. Greg believes that serving others fills all cups and he channels that positivity into serving students and faculty at the University of Arizona’s Zuckerman College of Public Health. As director of development for the college, Greg connects alumni and donors to philanthropic support of higher education and solving some of society’s biggest challenges. As a longtime fan of GTL and a Lead Tucson alum, Greg is humbled to serve the Greater Tucson Leadership as a contributing member of the board.
Board Member
Alex Demeroutis
Industrial Properties
PICOR Commercial Real Estate
Alex Demeroutis joined Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR’s industrial sales and leasing team in 2020. A native Tucsonan, she began her commercial real estate journey as a broker assistant to Blum before becoming an independent Industrial Specialist in 2022. Demeroutis focuses on the leasing, acquisition, and disposition of warehouse, distribution, logistics, manufacturing, and research and development properties in the greater Tucson region.
She excels in advising building owners on leasing and sales strategies while providing comprehensive tenant representation services. Her ability to understand and meet diverse client needs has established her as a key contributor within C&W | PICOR’s industrial team.
Prior to commercial real estate, Demeroutis spent eight years as Vice President/Events Director at the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce, where she honed skills in marketing and corporate event planning. A graduate of the University of Arizona Eller College of Management, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing. Outside the office, Demeroutis enjoys weightlifting, dancing, performing comedy at Tucson Improv Movement, and exploring Tucson’s coffee and culinary scene.
Board Member
Gina Hansen
Director of Volunteer Resources
Habitat for Humanity Tucson
Gina is a proud Tucson native who has witnessed—and actively contributed to—the growth and vitality of her community. She currently serves as the Director of Volunteer Resources and AmeriCorps Host Site Manager at Habitat for Humanity Tucson, where she oversees volunteer engagement, outreach, AmeriCorps programs, internships, and all things FUN. Her passion for service and community building is at the heart of everything she does.
Gina is deeply involved in Southern Arizona’s nonprofit landscape. She serves on the Friends of PACC board as Secretary and serves on the Governance and Events committees, is a past president and current Membership Chair of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Managers Association (SAVMA), and actively participates in impactful organizations such as 100+ Women Who Care, NAWIC, and Greater Tucson Leadership. Lastly, she teaches compassion fatigue classes and mentors other volunteer engagement professionals in the community to help grow their programs and leadership skills.
In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Gina was honored as Volunteer Manager of the Year in 2020 by SAVMA and was nominated as Leader of the Month by Greater Tucson Leadership.
Her diverse career journey has spanned healthcare, landscape design, water conservation, animal welfare, and humane education—all of which have contributed to her holistic understanding of community needs. Ultimately, she found her true calling in volunteer management and hasn’t looked back since.
In her downtime, Gina pours her creativity and heart into her small businesses, Make a Difference Crafts & Co and Sundown West, which reflect her love of community, craftsmanship, and Arizona’s unique spirit. She also treasures time spent with her friends, family, and beloved pets
Board Member
Mike Letcher
President/CEO and Associate Professor of Practice
BridgeGroup LLC and University of Arizona
Mike Letcher is President and CEO of BridgeGroup LLC, a public and private sector consulting firm. He specializes in consulting with clients on strategic planning, governance, executive recruitment, financial and budget strategies and conducting Mayor and Council Board retreats.
He is also an Associate Professor of Practice in the Masters of Public Administration Program at the University of Arizona. He teaches courses in Strategic Planning, Leadership and manages the Capstone Program.
Board Member
Lance Meeks
Vice President of Community Engagement
Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona
Lance Meeks currently serves as the Vice President of Community Engagement for Goodwill of Southern Arizona. His responsibilities include overseeing four Goodwill Youth Reengagement Centers and Reentry programs, the management of programs that connect Opportunity Youth to educational programs, job training, needs assistance (bus passes, clothing, food, school supplies,) and community service-learning projects.
With a bachelor’s and master’s degree in criminal justice, Lance has over 15 years of experience working with at-risk and Opportunity Youth and youth in the juvenile justice system. He also has more than 5 years of experience working in adult corrections. Lance is active in the community and serves on various committees, Tucson Pima Collaboration to End Homelessness-Homeless Youth Coalition; and the Pima County Juvenile Justice Steering Committee. Lance is also an active member of the NAACP Tucson Branch.
Lance is a 2021 Greater Tucson Leadership Board of Director, Boys to Men Tucson Board of Director, Juneteenth Festival Committee Board of Director, Dunbar Pavilion Board Member, Pio Decimo Center Advisory Board, 2020 Greater Tucson Leadership graduate, Society for Human Resource Management 2022 Community Impact Award, 2018 Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce 40 Under 40 Award recipient, 2019 Child & Family Resources Gabe Zimmerman Emerging Champion Nominee, 2019 Women’s Progressive Civic Club recipient of the Men of Honor Award and 2019 Goodwill Ambassador of the Year Award. He also received the 2014 Child Abuse Prevention Award. Lance has served as a national expert at the Coalition for Juvenile Justice Conference, contributing on a panel, leading a workshop about community relationships, and reducing arrests for youth of color.
Board Member
Joe Rottman
Senior Account Manager
Caterpillar Inc
Joe works in business development at Caterpillar Inc, leading a team which works on some of the largest surface and underground mining projects across the Americas. Coming from a mining family in the Midwest, Joe has over twenty years of mining industry experience. During his time at Caterpillar, Joe has worked in various roles in engineering, product development, strategy, marketing, and sales of large mining equipment, with a specialization in Latin American copper mining. Joe has an B.S. of Computer Engineering and an M.S. of Engineering Management from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN, and an Executive Certificate in Mining Operations and Economics from the University of Arizona. Joe is a Board member of the Downtown Tucson Partnership and chairs the Caterpillar Tucson area CSR Board.
Board Member
Rachel Sass
Vice President & Trust Advisor
Northern Trust
Rachel Sass is a Vice President and Trust Advisor at Northern Trust. Northern Trust collaborates with clients and their advisors to offer holistic wealth management services for individuals and families, privately held businesses, family offices, and foundation and endowments. Prior to joining Northern Trust, Rachel was an Associate Attorney at Rimon, P.C. and Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P. Rachel graduated summa cum laude and with honors from the University of Arizona in 2013 with her bachelor’s in political science, and later graduated cum laude from the University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law in 2018.
Rachel’s practice concentrated in estate and tax planning, probate and trust administration, and business law. She is well-versed in developing estate plans in a wide variety of circumstances, from simple plans to complex plans for high net worth individuals and families.
Rachel is a member of the State Bar of Arizona. Rachel is a former Miss Arizona United States and enjoys serving her community. She is a graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership LEAD program, Class of 2021, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Southern Arizona Estate Planning Council and Roots & Roads Community Hospice Foundation.
Board Member
Jessa Turner
Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications
Tech Parks Arizona
Jessa B. Turner develops and executes 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 has helped to advance Tech Parks Arizona for 20+ years primarily through the promotion of university-based economic development activities. She is a graduate of the Greater Tucson Leadership (GTL) class of 2013 and is on the GTL board.
Turner has been an active member of PRSA’s vibrant network of local practitioners for over 15 years and has served on the board in a variety of roles, including President, Western District Liaison, Ethics Chair, Impact Awards Chair and Secretary. She is an award-winning PR practitioner, including winning the organization’s coveted Best in Show Award multiple years.
Board Member
Heath Vescovi-Chiordi
Director, Economic Development
Pima County
Heath S. Vescovi-Chiordi, MPA, AZED Pro, is the Director of Economic Development for Pima County, AZ. Heath is charged with the creation, implementation and periodic updating of the County’s regional Economic Development Strategic Plan. This plan includes business attraction, retention and expansion, workforce development, and infrastructure development initiatives, focusing on small medium and large businesses, supporting the innovation ecosystem and economy, and generally improving the local and regional economy. During his time at Pima County, Heath has overseen the creation of a new Economic Development Strategic Plan for the County as well as several new partnerships and programs focused on workforce development and training, regional local business support, and more. He has also overseen the retention and expansion of companies like World View, Inc. and Accelerate Diagnostics, and led point on the attraction of American Battery Factory, a proposed $1.2B, 1,000 job battery manufacturing investment announced in Pima County-Tucson. Heath graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with an emphasis on local government. His past roles include Management Assistant, Economic Development Specialist, Assistant to the Town Manager, and Airport Director, all for the Town of Marana, AZ. In these capacities, Heath carried out special projects for all departments, engaged in economic development activities, acted as the designated public lobbyist and chief legislative liaison for the town, and implemented and coordinated all activities for Marana Regional Airport.
