Southern Arizona Workforce Leadership Academy — Fellows and Facilitators
We’re pleased to introduce the fellows of the 2025 Southern Arizona Workforce Leadership Academy! The Academy — launched in partnership by the Center for the Future of Arizona, Pima Community College, and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — brings leaders from across the Southern Arizonian workforce ecosystem together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. The Academy provides a forum for local leaders to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems-based challenges and create shared solutions for economic opportunity for all. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs.
Alumni of the Academy become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, joining more than 370 alumni from 22 previous Academies in 17 cities in the US and Canada.
Adam Begody is a community-driven professional who specializes in strategies that build and nurture relationships through collaboration. A graduate of The Ohio State University, Adam excels at strategic planning and corporate engagement.
Adam serves as Director of Corporate Engagement for Earn to Learn (ETL) collaborating with corporate partners to identify workforce and funding support for students across Arizona. Adam oversees all workforce initiatives and is currently standing up ETL’s Early Career Pathfinder’s Program.
Adam has been recognized with a Leadership Award from the Society for Human Resource Management and was included in the 2021 Tucson Hispanic Chamber 40 under 40 where he was named Man of the Year. Adam and his wife, Rina, have a two-year-old daughter named Elliot.
I am a Tucson native and hold degrees from Pima Community College, the University of Arizona, and the San Francisco Art Institute. I am a results-oriented workforce development specialist skilled in developing employment programs and providing services to students seeking experience in various employment sectors. I strive to bring industry, local government, and education together to create seamless college and career pathways that enable more young people to earn degrees and credentials with labor market value in high-wage, high-skill, high-demand industries. I enjoy spending time with my family and cycling, hiking, and surfing in my free time.
Missy Blair is the Academic Director for Pima Community College’s Center for Transportation and Logistics. In addition to curriculum oversight, budgeting and strategic planning, Missy holds a Class A Commercial Driver License (CDL), is an Arizona-certified CDL examiner, and a traffic school instructor. Missy is also a National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools board member, a National Academies Transportation Research Board committee member, and was one of Women in Trucking’s 2019 Top Women to Watch in Transportation. She holds a Northern Arizona University Master of Education in Educational Leadership (Community College/Higher Education emphasis).
Outside of work, Missy spends time with her husband, two adult kids, granddogs, mountain biking, or volunteering with Empire Ranch Foundation and GRO Girl GRO.
Dr. John DeLalla has been an educator with the University of Arizona for nearly 20 years, including more than a decade as a faculty member and Program Director for Network Administration degree program, with concurrent service as Director of Continuing Education, overseeing a program offering IT certification training and professional development. Prior to joining the University, John worked in the IT field and helped launch a Silicon Valley dot com, along with working for The Walt Disney Company and touring (in a marketing role) with the Goo Goo Dolls. Away from campus John is building a riding railroad and is active in community affairs.
Amber Folkman brings a global perspective to education and systems design, drawing from her foundation in Special Education. Her career spans over a decade, teaching across multiple US states and the Philippines, where she worked at international schools and supported disadvantaged communities through outreach programs. As Director of Implementation at Pipeline AZ, she combines data-driven approaches with human-centered systems to increase access to opportunities and break down barriers. Her commitment to education and analytical mindset enable her to create impactful solutions serving diverse communities, driven by her passion for fostering meaningful connections and belief in human potential.
Air Force veteran with experience in the federal service, and Aerospace & Defense industry. Spouse of a military veteran and mother of two adult children. Military community and mental health advocate. PhD student. Strong supporter of the trades. Focused on building strong, continuous pipelines of candidates that will be beneficial for all demographics.
Merrill Kemp-Wilcox joined Pima JTED in 2023 as the Director of Research & Development. JTED serves 30,000 career and technical education high school students in southern Arizona through programs that are proven to improve student success, contribute to the local economy, and jumpstart careers. Merrill’s position focuses on increasing alignment and engagement with industry, education, and workforce development. Her background is in education policy, seen through a lens of economic and workforce development. She holds a Bachelor’s from Georgia State University in Language Studies, and a Master’s in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. Merrill previously worked as the Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education in Atlanta, where it is not a dry heat.
Annie joined the University of Arizona’s Student Engagement & Career Development department in 2017 and leads their experiential learning and skills development efforts. Prior to this position, Annie was a Lecturer in the School of Architecture, where she coordinated First-Year Design Studios curricula, and taught Design Communications and Architectural History courses. She has presented her work in experiential learning design and faculty development nationally and has co-authored publications in higher education and work-integrated learning. Annie grew up in New York and holds a Master of Arts degree in Critical Theory and Visual Culture from the University of London’s Goldsmiths College, and a Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation.
Greg has 40 years of senior level management experience working within corporations, at various levels of governments, and with non-governmental organizations. He currently is serving as Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College District. His directive is to oversee the construction of a new college campus and the transition from a provisional college to an accredited status.
He has served as staff to a US Senator, US Congressman, Governor, and City Council Members. Additionally, he has served as the Vice Mayor and as a Council Member for the City of Nogales, President of the Santa Cruz County Provisional Community College Governing Board, and as a member of the Nogales Unified School District Governing Board.
Mariana Martinez Reynoso, born and raised in Yuma County, serves as the CTE Director of Work-Based Learning at Yuma Union High School District. With nearly a decade experience in workforce development under WIOA programs, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her current role, developing innovative work-based learning frameworks tailored to her district’s goals and student needs.
Mariana is driven to create opportunities where students gain real-world experiences that enhance their career readiness while fostering strong partnerships with local employers and community stakeholders. Her work bridges the workforce gap between education and industry, preparing students for future success and supporting local economic growth.
Kelle Maslyn has more than 25 years of experience engaging Tucson’s public, private and higher education sectors in the development of strategic partnerships that leverage assets to drive growth, deepen relationships and accelerate innovation.
She is the assistant director for strategic affairs for the Pima County Office of Economic Development where she focuses on small business success, business retention and expansion, workforce development and university partnerships.
She previously worked for Arizona State University, Comcast and the Marana Chamber of Commerce. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northern Arizona University and a master’s degree in communication from Arizona State University. She has a cat named Karma, has run more than 20 half marathons and loves to cook.
Dr. Brandon McIver is a retired Air Force Officer that currently works as the Chief Data and Analytics Officer for the AZ Dept of Environmental Quality. In this role, he is responsible for Business and Geospatial Intelligence and Analytics that support mission outcomes increasing the quality and regulations of Arizona Air, Water, and Waste. He is responsible for the overall Data Management of his agency to include both Data Governance and Quality. Brandon also serves the community as an Adjunct Professor at Pima Community College. He teaches Cybersecurity, Cyber Law and Ethics, Network Management, and other courses as required. In the Dept of Defense he works as a Medical Administration, Cyber Planning Operations & Warfare, NSA Cyber Intelligence, Strategic Missile Warning, International Affairs, and Emergency/Disaster Preparedness.
Lourdes is a passionate advocate for education, believing it to be a key driver of transformation. She holds an Associate’s degree from Pima Community College and a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Public Relations. With over 25 years of experience in community development, Lourdes has been a dedicated professional in the education sector, working across all educational levels. She has led initiatives focusing on academic success, mentorship, and leadership development, while partnering with local organizations to improve access to education, workforce training, and social services. Her efforts aim to inspire and empower individuals, fostering stronger, more inclusive communities.
As the Director of College & Career Transitions and Partnerships within the Adult Education division at Pima Community College, I develop innovative Integrated Education and Training (IET) models that expand access to industry-recognized training on pathways to careers that lead to a thriving future. I also currently serve as a national IET training facilitator and coach for states seeking to strengthen their IET impact through the Advance IET project, a 3-year initiative led by the American Institutes for Research. In both of these roles, I am able to continue to focus on the expansion of quality IET programs that increase access and equity for adult learners through strategic and highly collaborative partnerships with core WIOA, CTE, Workforce and community partners.
Vickie Simmons, C.P.A., is the Deputy Director for the ARIZONA@WORK-Southeastern Arizona. She began her career as a Workforce Development Professional in April, 2009. Vickie oversees the day to day operations of ARIZONA@WORK-Southeastern Arizona in Cochise, Graham and Greenlee counties.
Previously, Vickie worked in public accounting, commercial and residential construction accounting in Mississippi, Georgia and Maryland. Vickie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Arizona Society of CPAs and a National Association of Workforce Development Professionals board member representing the state of Arizona. Vickie holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.
She is a dedicated professional with over 20 years of experience in the fields of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Education, and Outreach. Her passion for fostering inclusive communities is evident through her commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) initiatives. Athena has successfully developed and implemented interpretive programs and exhibit designs that engage and educate diverse audiences, making the natural world accessible to all. Her career is marked by a deep understanding of the importance of connecting people to their environment, creating memorable experiences that inspire stewardship and appreciation for nature. With a collaborative spirit and a heart for community engagement, Athena continues to champion initiatives that promote environmental awareness and inclusivity, leaving a lasting impact on those she serves.
Jessica Winchester is a dynamic leader with 15+ years of experience advancing equity in workforce development. As Director of Vocational Services at Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, she manages statewide operations, federal contracts, and high-impact partnerships.
She is also the founder of Inclusive Pathways, a consulting firm helping businesses create inclusive workplaces and optimize operations. A passionate advocate, Jessica has designed cultural competency initiatives and programs that remove barriers for individuals with disabilities and underserved communities.
She holds an MBA with emphasis in leadership. With expertise in strategy, compliance, and capacity building, Jessica is committed to creating sustainable pathways to opportunity for all.
John Winchester is a Sr. Director of Gov. & Comm. Engagement for Arizona State University. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Tucson Metro Chamber and Sun Corridor Inc., the Policy Councils for the Tucson Metro Chamber, Greater Vail Area Chamber, and Southern Arizona Leadership Council. He is a Flinn-Brown Fellow, an alumni of both the Honorary Commander program at Davis Monthan Airforce Base and the Greater Tucson Leadership, frm. Chair of the Emerging Leaders Council of the Tucson Metro Chamber, frm. Chair of the Advocacy Committee for Tucson Young Professionals, named one of Tucson’s 40 under 40, recognized as a NextGen Leader in 2024, and received the “People’s Choice Award” by the Arizona Diaper Bank in 2024.
Erica Yngve is an entrepreneur and owner of multiple award-winning companies based in Tucson, AZ including: Sonoran Stitch Factory – a cut & sew manufacturer supporting small to mid-size apparel clients Bralessly – a fashion brand featuring products for women who want to live comfortably and modest. Postcraft Products – a 95-year-old company featuring industrial sewn bed/bath products. Erica is also the Entrepreneur in Residence for the AZ Stitch Lab, a program under the non-profit Moonshot, which is funded by a grant from the City of Tucson, and additionally in its first year, by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. This program provides industrial sewing machine training to meet the demands of Arizona businesses that employ industrial sewing machine operators.
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