Foundation Board of Directors
Jackie Guthrie, President
L.S. “Jake” Jacobson, Vice President
Alice Wilcox, Treasurer
David Snider, Secretary
Jack Stonebraker, Member-at-Large
Darrell Wilson, Member-at-Large
Dr. Jackie Elliott, Ed.D, College President
D. Brett Benedict
Lucinda Boyd
Jon Corwin
Jim Garrett
Stacy Gramazio
Shirley Ann Hartman
Adam Hawkins
Gayle Randolph
Jordan Rose
Randy Seppala
Hon. T.J. Shope
Beatrice Trembath
Joan Wuertz
Emeriti Members
Mel Anderson
Brett Eisele
Board of Directors & Committee Meeting Schedule
D. Brett Benedict
Term 2021
After many years of managing family agricultural enterprises, Brett joined Electrical District No. 3 of Pinal County, Arizona (ED3) as Controller in 2005. As ED3 grew, his responsibilities grew as well, and he served as CEO and General Manager.
Brett’s education experiences span from a bachelor’s in Agronomy from the University of Arizona through a master’s in International Business from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management and continues with certifications in Public Power Management from American Public Power Association, Global Leadership from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management, Water Management from Morrison School of Agribusiness and Real Estate Development from Arizona State University.
Brett enjoys his community involvements and is currently serving as member of the Casa Grande Industrial Development Authority and the Casa Grande Historical Preservation Commission.
Lucinda Boyd, RN, President & Co-Founder, The Streets Don’t Love You Back
Term 2023
Lucinda is a a 36-year resident of Maricopa for over 36 years and was graduated with honors from Central Arizona College Nursing Program in 1998. She is the recipient of the 2019 Central Arizona College Outstanding Achievement Alumni Award.
Lucinda works full time as a Registered Nurse and is the President and Co-Founder of The Streets Don’t Love You Back, a non-profit organization with the mission of educating youth against gangs, drugs, violence and abuse. She created and authored the curriculum, a Lifeskills Intervention Program for TSDLYB that is being taught locally to at-risk youth. It is an ongoing program in Pinal and Maricopa County Detention Centers, the Arizona Department of Corrections system and 165 other prisons throughout the USA. She is a member of the City of Maricopa Parks, Recreation and Library Advisory Committee. Lucinda is an Advisory Member at Pinal County Juvenile Restorative Justice, President of the Zonta Club of Maricopa and has been a member of various boards and committees in the past. Lucinda has served on the Central Arizona College Foundation Board since 2017.
Jon Corwin, Vice President & General Manager, Global Water Resources, Inc.
Term 2023
Jon is currently Vice President & General Manager for Global Water Resources, Inc. running Global Water’s state-wide operations and customer service. He joined Global Water in 2011. Prior to joining Global Water, he spent 8 years in the United States Air Force as a Civil Engineering Officer serving as the Chief of Maintenance Engineering and Emergency Management Flight Commander.
Jon was graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and received his Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University. He has participated on the Central Arizona College Foundation Board since 2011. He is also a board member for the Economic Development Group of Eloy (EDGE).
Jim Garrett, Owner, Garrett Chevrolet -Buick- GMC
Term 2021
Jim served on the Foundation Board from March 1999 to April 2010 and returned to the Board in 2012. Jim has served in the capacity of Treasurer and Second Vice-President on the Foundation Executive Committee. Jim is the Owner/Operator of Garrett Chevrolet – Buick – GMC in Coolidge. He is a lifelong Coolidge resident and graduated from Coolidge High School. He received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.
Jim is active in the following activities and organizations: Coolidge Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, Industrial Development Authority, Coolidge Economic Development Committee, Coolidge Baseball and Football Boosters, Coolidge Lions Club, Coolidge Scholarship Committee, Coolidge Nazarene Church/Youth ministries, and Coolidge Florence Elks.
Jim resides in Coolidge with his wife Lisa. They have two sons; one is a graduate of Arizona State University and works at the dealership. His other son graduated from Southwestern University of Texas where he played baseball and currently also works at the dealership. Garrett Chevrolet is a fourth generation dealership and has been under the same ownership for over 80 years.
Stacy Gramazio, Manager of Communications and Public Affairs, Florence Copper
Term 2022
Stacy was raised in Mesa, Arizona. She was graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in Media Arts. After spending over a decade in Los Angeles working in television production, she and her family moved to her home state of Arizona in the new area of San Tan Valley where she and her family have resided for more than 10 years.
Stacy joined the Florence Copper team in 2012 and has led the communications and public affairs staff through the permitting and public review process.
Stacy is the chairman of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce and serves on the Central Regional Council for Arizona Forward. In 2015 and 2016, she was recognized by Central Arizona College for Exemplary Leadership in Pinal County.
In her spare time, Stacy is busy raising two active boys with her husband Chris and is a volunteer for her sons’ schools.
Jackie Guthrie, AICP, Realtor
Term 2022
President; Executive Committee
Jackie is a Land Use Planner with forty years of experience in the State of Arizona. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Urban Planning, she moved to Arizona and has been a resident of Pinal County for over twenty years. Jackie has been very involved with many of the local communities. She served six years on the City of Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission and was a member of the City of Maricopa Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee during the City’s first year of incorporation. Jackie is on the Board of Directors for Against Abuse, Inc. and serves on the Pinal AMA Groundwater Users Advisory Council.
Jackie recently retired from EPS Group, Inc., an Arizona Firm, offering engineering, planning and surveying. Jackie provided planning and entitlement services to home builders, developers, and land owners as well as Native American communities, cities, towns and counties. Jackie is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Jackie and is a licensed realtor, working with AZ New Horizon Realty representing residential and commercial buyers and sellers.
Jackie is very honored to serve on the Foundation Board and the Executive Committee. She has been a strong supporter of community colleges as a result of her own experience earning an Associate degree from Delta Community College in Saginaw, Michigan.
Jackie lives in Casa Grande with her husband, Tom Belden, a retired art professor from Central Arizona College. With Jackie’s recent retirement they plan to spend more time traveling and golfing.
Shirley Ann Hartman, Hartman Ranch, retired educator
Term 2021
Shirley Ann has served on the Foundation Board of Directors since 1987. She served as Secretary from 1999 – 2010. She enjoys participating in all activities related to the Foundation. Her most rewarding experience related to board service is the establishment of the Foundation’s scholarship program, Promise for the Future. Shirley Ann is active in the Maricopa Historical Society, Pinal Partnership Open Space and Trails Committee, and served as President of the Casa Grande Valley Cotton and Agriculture Women. Shirley is also presently on the advisory board for the College of Education at the University of Arizona and a member of Pinal County’s Citizens’ Advisory Board, Comprehensive Plan.
Shirley Ann established the gifted program in the Maricopa Elementary School District and taught second grade in the same district for 22 years. Shirley Ann participated in the professional rodeo circuit for 25 years and raised quarter horses on Hartman Ranch. She is currently teaching her grandsons to water ski and enjoys traveling with her husband, Philip McD.
Adam Hawkins, President, Global External Relations
Term 2023
Adam is a leading authority when it comes to merging government relations, public affairs and community outreach. He has a range of first-hand experience related to external relations in the fields of economic development, rural affairs, environmental and natural resources policy. A fixture in the public affairs, communications, and lobbying community for over a decade, Adam’s insight is sought after and trusted by clients across the globe. He started his career as a staffer in the United States Senate. Prior to launching Global External Relations, he worked within two leading public policy firms, assisting clients on issues that included environment, water, natural resources, taxation, HR, commerce, transportation, and public lands.
Adam was graduated with honors from Thunderbird School of International Business with an MBA and holds a BA/BS from Arizona State University. He has served on the Central Arizona College Foundation Board since 2007.
L.S. (Jake) Jacobson, President and CCO of the Copper Basin Railway, Inc.
Term 2022
Vice President; Executive Committee
Jake was born on a small farm in central Kansas. At the age of 17 he was hired to work as a laborer on the Union Pacific’s big steel gang near Frankfort, Kansas, and continued to excel in the railroad business. In 1969, Jake joined the Union Pacific Management Team and was one of the youngest officers in the Engineering Department. Later, Jake was promoted to Director of Train Operations. Jake has extensive experience in transforming major terminals on the Union Pacific Railroad to first place in safety. His experience and expertise in crisis management during strikes, floods, fires, derailments and chemical spills has Jake sought after by the Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation; he continues to maintain a secret government clearance.
Jake served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam conflict. Washington, D.C.’s American Railroad Association has named railroading’s most prestigious safety award after him and it’s known throughout the railroad industry as the ‘JAKE’ award. He was named North America’s Railroad Man of the Year in 1994, Citizen of the Year in 1998 and was recognized as one of the great railroaders of the 20th century. He is presently the President and CCO of the Copper Basin Railway, Inc. in Hayden, Arizona.
Jake has served as a board member of the Central Arizona College Foundation since 2007, and was elected to serve as Member-at-Large on the Executive Committee in March 2012. Jake enjoys sponsoring the College for Kids program and car shows through the Foundation.
Gayle Randolph, Board of Directors NAACP & Arizona Fair Housing Center
Term 2020-2023
Gayle is a mortgage/bank professional with a decade of experience working with the intricacies of First Time Home Buyer grant and bond loans for low to moderate income families. Trained as a HUD Housing Counselor, she coaches a full range of programs and services that encourage, create and support home ownership. Her passion and hard work have helped hundreds of families realize the dream of home
ownership.
Gayle is currently serving on the Board of Directors for the NAACP and Arizona Fair Housing Center. She is the past Assistant Treasurer for the National Association of Real Estate Brokers where she also served as Co-Chair for the Budget & Finance Committee, Audit Committee Member and Executive Search Team Member. Some of her responsibilities have included: reviewing treasury reports, drafting by-laws for 501(c)(3) organizations, fundraising and planning events. She is a graduate of New York University with a BA in Education;completed Flinn Institute CivEx, Valley Leadership and City of Maricopa Leadership Training Programs. Gayle is active in her community and promotes prom dress drives for needy youth and teaches financial literacy classes for success. is resides in Maricopa with her husband Henry and their blended family of 5 children and 6 grandchildren.
Jordan Rose, President & Founder, Rose Law Group pc
Term 2021
Jordan has served on the Foundation Board since 2006, including service on the Executive Committee. Jordan started Rose Law Group pc leasing space for just herself in another lawyer’s storage room and has, in fourteen years, grown the firm to the largest woman owned law firm in the southwestern states. Rose Law Group pc is a full service business and real estate law firm, providing services ranging from trusts and estates and family law to employment, complex finance, litigation, cyber-bullying/cyber-defamation, election law, renewable energy, business and real estate transactions, and lobbying. It is the only law firm in Arizona (and possibly the nation) to combine attorneys with an array of urban planners, LEED certified consultants, project managers, energy consultants, and construction managers so that the firm can take a project from due diligence and acquisition through planning and project management on to actual construction. Jordan practices in the areas of land use, zoning, government relations, municipal issues, and lobbying. Her clients are generally homebuilders, large landowners, commercial developers, or homeowners who need to resolve issues with municipalities.
Jordan has been called “the Queen of Pinal County” by the Phoenix Business Journal as she and Rose Law Group represented possibly as many as 90% of all represented zoning cases that were processed through the fastest growing county in the country during the height of the last real estate boom.
Jordan and her husband, Jason, have two boys, Logan and Carson. Jordan loves what CAC is doing and has been a big proponent of the multiple campus growth.
Randy Seppala, Project Manager, Underground Maintenance and Operations – Resolution Copper
Term 2020-2023
Randy joined Resolution Copper in 2006 and has 40 years of underground mining experience. He has worked in mine development, underground construction, mine operations, maintenance and engineering. Randy has worked in operations and projects across the United States and Indonesia. His interest in education has been focused on the development of the local workforce to meet the current and future technical workforce requirements for Resolution Copper. He worked on the partnership with Central Arizona College representatives to develop and implement a pilot apprenticeship program. The program consists of academic and practical training that will result in a recognized certification. Apprentices are fulltime employees of Resolution Copper. Training lasts three years and has a practical application component at Resolution Copper, under the mentorship of Journeymen in the areas of specialization. Randy has a bachelor’s degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona.
AZ Representative TJ Shope, Co-Owner Shope’s IGA Supermarket
Term 2020-2023
TJ is a resident of Coolidge, AZ and has long been active in the community. Born in Florence, TJ has lived in Coolidge for the overwhelming majority of his life and is a 2003 graduate of Coolidge High School. He is a 2005 graduate of Central Arizona College and was inducted into the college’s 2013 Wall of Success. In 2008 he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from Arizona State University.
TJ was elected to the Coolidge Unified School District Governing Board in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Upon taking office in 2009, he was voted to be the board’s vice-president and in 2013 was elected the board’s president. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance and the Arizona Board of Directors for Playworks, an organization focusing on creating options for children to engage in healthy and inclusive play so they may learn both winning and losing with grace. TJ has served on the Central Arizona College Foundation Board since 2017.
TJ is the proud son of former Coolidge-Florence Justice of the Peace Tom Shope and Luz Shope, and co-owns their family business, Shope’s IGA Supermarket in Coolidge. He is an active member of St. James Roman Catholic Church and its Knights of Columbus organization.
David Snider, Consultant, Snider Consulting Services
Term 2020-2023
Secretary; Executive Committee
David served two consecutive terms as a Pinal County Supervisor and 14 years as a member of the Casa Grande Elementary School District Governing Board. He was employed for nearly 30 years as an administrator in local government with responsibilities that included policy making, implementation for natural resources, economic development, transportation, information technologies, education and regional planning.
David has served on the Central Arizona College Foundation Board since 2014 and is currently serving on the Executive Committee as Secretary.
Arizona & Pinal County is David’s adoptive home, and he hopes to continue to contribute to Arizona’s successful future.
Jack Stonebraker, Financial Advisor, EdwardJones
Term 2021
Member-at-Large; Executive Committee
Jack is a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. He has been a member of the CAC Foundation Board since 1994. His work with the Foundation’s finances has been integral to the growth and financial well-being of the Foundation. Jack believes that a community college is essential to the vitality of the surrounding area it serves. Making Central Arizona College a better place to receive higher education is his number one reason for Foundation participation.
Jack has been married to his wife Vicki for 37 years, and they both love mountain climbing.
Beatrice Trembath, PHR, SHRM-CP, Human Resource Manager, Rogers Corporation
Term 2020-2022
Bea is an accomplished certified human resources leader with more than 20 years of experience partnering with leaders for the success of the employee and ultimately the business. Since graduating from Northern Illinois University with a BS in Business Management, she has held positions with companies in various industries and sizes, spanning all disciplines of human resources. She has also worked in a consulting capacity and as a Career Coach.
Bea is currently the Human Resources Manager for Rogers Corporation. She partners with leadership to develop strategy and talent to support current and future business goals. She executes human resources and supporting programs, to drive talent to capability and organizational effectiveness. She is a results driven professional with a high degree of integrity, who builds relationships to achieve organizational objectives.
Originally from Chicago, Bea lived in Minnesota and then move to Arizona 12 years ago. She enjoys live music, travel, cultural festivals, and spending time with family and friends.
Alice Wilcox
Term 2021
Treasurer; Executive Committee
Alice retired in August 2019 from the position of president and chief executive office of Pinal County Federal Credit Union. She said that serving the people of Pinal County was one of the most rewarding parts of her position at PCFCU. In this role she had the opportunity to become involved in several communities and work with others that are equally committed to the people of Pinal County.
Alice is a native of Arizona and began working in a small community bank at 18 years old. She holds an associate degree from Central Arizona College and was inducted into the Wall of Success receiving the Alumni Achievement Award in 2012. She has a degree in Accountancy from Arizona State University. She is a certified public accountant and graduated from Pacific Coast Banking School in 2007.
Volunteering at her local church, Alice serves as a preschool teacher. She also volunteers for the United Way of Pinal County and serves as the treasurer of the Board of Community Outreach of Robson Ranch.
Alice’s joy in life is her husband, her three children and their spouses, and her 13 grandchildren. She likes the outdoors and enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and having pool time!
Darrell Wilson,Founder and Principal of HilgartWilson
Term 2022
Member-at-Large; Executive Committee
Darrell is co-founder and principal of HilgartWilson. As Project Principal of HilgartWilson, Darrell actively aids in the overseeing of design concepts, assuring overall client satisfaction,quality control measures, scheduling and staffing.With the help of co-founder Ron Hilgart, Darrell also helps to main the operations and overall growth of the firm.
Prior to starting HilgartWilson, Darrell was a Managing Principal at CMX from 1993-2006. At CMX he was responsible for the overall business operations, as well as overseeing the design and construction of numerous public works projects as well as managed multi-disciplined teams on large and complex projects.He was an integral part in taking CMX from a staff of 15 during 1993 to a staff of 300 during 20o6 before the company was sold to an out-of-state firm.
Darrell received CAC and was inducted into the Wall of Success, receiving the Alumni Achievement Award, in 2009. Darrell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University. He is on the City of Phoenix Development Advisory Board and a member of ASCE, Home Builders Association, Luke Air Force Base 62nd Fighter Squadron, National Fire Protection Association and Pinal Partnership.
Joan Wuertz, retired educator
Term 2023
Joan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and moved with her family to Tucson in 1951. She attended the University of Arizona and became a kindergarten/first grade teacher in the Coolidge schools where she taught for 28 years. She was on the Coolidge School Board for eight years and presently serves on the Coolidge High School Scholarship Board. She also serves on the Pinetop Country Club Scholarship Board.
Joan has served on the Foundation Board of Directors since 2004. She has served as President and Past President of the Foundation.
Joan’s hope is that all children get a good education and become productive members of society. She feels that she is contributing to this goal through Promise for the Future and other scholarship programs. As a part of the Foundation Board, she believes we can collectively help our youth achieve their potential.
Dr. Jacquelyn Elliott, President/CEO, Central Arizona College
Executive Committee & Ex-Officio