Our Team

Jeanne Alegria
(she/her/hers)

Jeanne has been in the accounting field for over 18 years, and recently joined CFSA in May 2022. She is loving this opportunity to work with such an awesome team! Jeanne’s passion is knowing she’s made a positive impact on others, and she’s excited to take on new challenges with lots of diversity.

Jeanne enjoys spending time with her family, dancing, and doing outdoor activities (hiking, volleyball, and swimming).

Missy Bowden
(she/her/hers)

Missy Bowden has been the Chief Financial Officer for the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona since 2013.  She previously spent 25 years in banking, the last 17 of which as Chief Financial Officer of the Bank of Tucson and Vice President of Bank Performance for Capital Bancorp Ltd. where she was a “virtual” CFO to multiple banks in the Western US. She developed an interest in working in the nonprofit sector by serving on the board of La Paloma Family Services for 11 years.  She also served on the board of the Arizona Center for the Study of Children and Families.

Lahsha Brown
(she/her/hers)

Lahsha is a passionate supporter of the great work nonprofits do for our communities and for our country. She started off as a volunteer but was quickly recruited to work for The Wilderness Society in her home state of Idaho. Her work saving wild places allowed her to travel across the West, where she fell in love with warmer climates. Since moving to Tucson in 2006, Lahsha has been blessed to work with and direct several small natural resource, public policy and historic preservation organizations.

She loves being outside, whether hiking, camping, gardening or just soaking up the sun. Her small family unit includes her husband, daughter and energetic large Boxer named Boomer.

Andrés Cano
(he/him/his)
acano@cfsaz.org
520-301-6162

Andrés Cano is the Director of the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund. A native Tucsonan, Andrés is tasked with growing the Alliance Fund’s footprint as Southern Arizona’s premier organization for LGBTQ+ philanthropy and social change. He oversees the Fund’s donor development efforts and external relations. Andrés is also a current Member of the Arizona House of Representatives, where he serves as the state’s youngest LGBTQ+ state legislator.

From 2012-2019, Andrés was a senior aide to the late Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías in Tucson, Arizona, where he managed the Supervisor’s constituent outreach and neighborhood advocacy.

Andrés was raised by a single mom and is the first in his family to graduate from college. He graduated cum laude from Arizona State University in 2014 with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. In 2019, Andrés completed Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Executives Program in State and Local Government as a David Bohnett LGBTQ Victory Institute Leadership Fellow.

Andrés enjoys reading Sunday’s New York Times cover-to-cover. He likes cooking challenging and complicated recipes, and loves to spend time with his three godchildren.

Kjersten Erickson
(she/her/hers)
kerickson@cfsaz.org
520-209-2870

A Tucson native, Kjersten attended the University of Arizona where she earned undergraduate degrees in Russian and Slavic Studies and Business Management. Prior to joining CFSA, Kjersten worked in the insurance industry where she focused on negotiation strategies, leadership competencies, and project management. Kjersten is incredibly excited to be part of the Community Foundation Campus Team and make as much of a positive impact as possible.

In her free time, Kjersten loves to hang out with her dog Charlie, travel to all corners of the globe, and explore the vast hiking trails and adventure spots right here in Tucson’s backyard. She also loves spending as much time as possible with friends and family and hiding from the Tucson heat at the movie theater or the nearest swimming pool.

Jenny Flynn
(she/her/hers)

Before joining the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona (CFSA) as President and CEO in 2021, Jenny Flynn served Southern Arizona through various leadership positions at the University of Arizona Foundation for twenty years.  Working with a broad array of national and local partner foundations, she raised more than $100 million for the University. She also collaborated on significant initiatives, including building a talent management program and creating and executing a strategic plan to double fundraising.

Prior to her career as a fundraising and foundation professional, Jenny spent time as a National Park Ranger in Denali National Park and Glacier National Park, taught English as a second language in Spain and Italy, and served as teaching faculty and lecturer at the University of Montana, Sinte Gleska University, and Arizona State University.

In Jenny’s first year at CFSA, she is especially proud of supporting a vibrant and equitable community for all Southern Arizonans through CFSA’s largest-ever grant round and the launch of the Nonprofit Solar Project, providing solar arrays to power nonprofit organizations, enhancing their sustainability to serve the community. She serves on the board of the MAP Dashboard as well as Sun Corridor.

Natalia Gabrielsen
(she/her/hers)
ngabrielsen@cfsaz.org
520-289-8003

Natalia Gabrielsen serves as Program Manager for Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and was previously the Gifts & Grants Finance Associate at CFSA. Prior to CFSA, Natalia was the Grants and Services Manager with the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, where she oversaw grants funding local artists and arts organizations. She is excited to bring her knowledge of funding processes and community investment to CFSA. She has a background in museum databases and collections, and holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Arizona. Natalia loves German food, Zion National Park, and Dance Dance Revolution.

Job Portfolio

• Scholarships
• African American Legacy Fund
• Catchafire
• Competitive Grants General

Monica Galaz
(she/her/hers)
mgalaz@cfsaz.org
520-209-2862

A native Tucsonan, Monica has over 19 years of experience working in various administrative roles in the nonprofit sector and is passionate about providing services to the community.

When she is not working, Monica likes to spend time with her husband and four kids. She also has an amazing extended family with whom she spends a lot of time. Between birthdays and holidays, Monica is always out celebrating with those close to her!

David Gardner
(he/him/his)
dgardner@cfsaz.org
520-382-9203

As Program Manager, David Gardner oversees a variety of CFSA community initiatives and grant processes, including the Pima Alliance for Animal Welfare, the LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund, and the Nonprofit Solar Project. He also manages much of the Community Foundation’s reporting and evaluation processes.

Originally from Denver, CO, David finished his Master’s of Public Affairs in Nonprofit Management at Indiana University (Go Hoosiers!) in Bloomington, IN before moving to Tucson. Prior to CFSA, he served in the Peace Corps in Ecuador as a Teaching English as a Second Language volunteer.

David likes to spend his free time outdoors whenever possible, whether it is hiking, birding, playing tennis, cycling, grilling, or simply spending time with friends and family, especially his partner and their dog. He also loves to travel and visit new places.

Job Portfolio

• LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund
• Solar + Environmental Fund
• Pima Alliance for Animal Welfare
• Competitive Grants General
• Catchafire
• Reporting & Evaluation

Melinda Gee-McDaniel
(she/her/hers)
mgeemcdaniel@cfsaz.org
520-382-5889

A Tucson native, Melinda has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 6 years in the areas of communications, grants and contracts, and fund development. Prior to joining the nonprofit field, Melinda lived abroad teaching high school English and Psychology in Nanjing, China. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a double major in Communication and Psychology and loves telling stories that inform and inspire the community!

In her spare time, Melinda enjoys volunteering with organizations around Tucson, trying new local restaurants, reading, hitting the gym, and continuing to collect stamps in her passport with her husband.

Kelly Huber
(she/her/hers)
khuber@cfsaz.org
520-209-2858

Kelly Huber has 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, working in all aspects of the industry, from executive leadership, fundraising/development, and programmatic capacities. She earned a BA in Spanish, a BS in Environmental Science, and an MS in Nonprofit Organizational Management and holds a certification as a CAP-Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®.  Some of her favorite work since starting at CFSA in 2013 surrounds building funder collaboratives, community partnerships,  and the joy of working with donors and foundations to create current giving and legacy plans to match their values now and forever.

As the mother of two teenage boys, she is skilled in the art of negotiation. As a native Tucsonan, her favorite Eegees flavor of the month is Lucky Lime. #nonprofitlife.

Cat Kiesel
(she/her/hers)

Cat Kiesel has been in the accounting field for over 22 years, 15 of which have been right here at CFSA. A natural problem solver, Cat finds joy in her day-to-day work organizing and creating efficient processes for our team. Cat believes in a work-life balance and is passionate about health and wellness, fine art, fun crafts, and raising her amazing daughter.

Jonathan Kleefeld
(he/him/his)

Jonathan joined the CFSA team in August 2022 and is excited to be a part of the Foundation’s committed efforts to support the Southern Arizona community.

Jonathan loves travel, the outdoors, books, music, movies, and delicious food, and could never possibly say enough about how much he adores his wife, kid, and cat.

Laura Maher
(she/her/hers)
lmaher@cfsaz.org
520-209-2765

A non-profit professional with deep roots in Tucson, Laura has more than a decade of experience in communications, program coordination, and fundraising. She is continually inspired by the people, places, and work of Southern Arizona, and she is excited to deepen her understanding of the region and support a vibrant and equitable community through CFSA. The best part of her workday is getting to connect with people and learn about the causes they care about most.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her human and canine loved ones, exploring new places through travel, exploring new ideas through podcasts and books, and attempting to find and bake the perfect cookie.

Tamara McKinney
(she/her/hers)
tmckinney@cfsaz.org
520-209-2874

A Tucson native, Tamara has more than 20 years of experience in communications, systems building and evaluation, fundraising, and program development in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Prior to joining CFSA, Tamara served as the executive director of a Southern Arizona nonprofit focused on health and food insecurity. She loves being part of a team dedicated to supporting our community’s generous donors and vital nonprofit partners.

Tamara is the proud mom of two amazing young women and two large dogs who keep her very busy. As empty nesters, she and her husband enjoy playing pinball, reading mystery novels, and gardening with native plants to keep their bees happy all year. Tamara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona and her MBA from the University of Illinois.

Enedina Miller
(she/her/hers)
emiller@cfsaz.org
520-209-1525

Community and family are strongly linked in Enedina’s heart. Enedina’s work as a Program Manager in the Community Investments department at CFSA gives her the honor of positively impacting the community in which she was born and raised. She has a big family and loves spending time with her husband, their two kids, and their dog. In the moments between work and parenthood, she finds herself reading a book, watching a sappy love movie, or dancing to Bruno Mars! #BLESSED

Portfolio

• Supporting Organizations
• Awards
• Competitive Grants General
• Agreements
• Donor Advised Fund Grants

Jeaiza Quiñones Ivory
(she/her/hers)
jqivory@cfsaz.org
520-447-8927

Jeaiza Quiñones Ivory began her journey into nonprofit work as a volunteer and student worker in her native St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Eight years later, her work with CFSA has allowed her to nurture a passion for grantmaking, program planning, IDEA work and nonprofit capacity building. Her personal goal is working toward ensuring access to communities who are underrepresented in philanthropic work and pursuing more opportunities for unrestricted grantmaking which has been a transformative aspect of her work in Southern Arizona.

Jeaiza earned her BA in English at Prairie View A&M University and an MS in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations at Syracuse University. Her favorite things to do in Arizona are road trips, hiking, and driving up Mount Lemmon whenever she has the opportunity.

Anne Reid
(she/her/hers)
areid@cfsaz.org
520-382-9204

Anne is originally from Tulsa, OK where she graduated from Oklahoma State University. She then moved to San Francisco, CA to spend the next 28 years there! Anne enjoyed gaining diverse work experience through her 21 years in contract interior design for medical facilities, 4.5 years as a Business Receptionist at the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, and as Temp Staffing for University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Anne was also on the Board of Directors for the nonprofit Pacific Musical Society in San Francisco for 23 years.

Anne moved to Tucson in 2015 with her family members. Familiar with Tucson from years of vacationing here in the summertime, Anne enjoys the art, culture, food, scenery, animals, birds, and architecture of Southern Arizona. She spends her personal time taking care of her mother and her aunt, maintaining an online Etsy shop, doing beadwork, crochet, needlepoint, jigsaw puzzles, reading, and playing Warcraft.

Georgia Schwartz
(she/her/hers)
gschwartz@cfsaz.org
520-209-2868

Georgia Schwartz has worked in the nonprofit world for eleven years and brings more than thirty-five years of experience in accounting, program and facilities management to her work at CFSA.

She has a master’s degree in fine arts and currently is the manager for the CFSA Community Campus, helping to create a space where the nonprofit community can convene, collaborate, and grow.

Rose Snyder
(she/her/hers)
rsnyder@cfsaz.org
520-209-2866

Rose Snyder is a leading governance consultant for national and regional organizations across the country. Her unique experience in the Olympic sports world at USA Swimming, U.S. Figure Skating and the U.S. Olympic Committee allows her to “coach” and prepare boards, staff, and c-suite executives for high performance and achievement.

Rose’s expertise in team building and passion for excellence helps organizations advance their mission and improve effectiveness. Her cornerstone programs include team building, communication, strategic planning and performance and leadership coaching.

While Rose has enjoyed nearly 15 years as a successful nonprofit consultant, she has recently taken her success to the business coaching arena. She received her credentials through The Institute for Integrative Coach Training and recently earned her ACC, (Associate Certified Coach) through the International Coaching Federation.

Prior to her work in administration, Rose was a successful swim coach whose swimmers went on to compete at the Olympic trials. Rose has a Master of Organizational Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In addition, Rose has trained extensively with Board Source, formerly the National Center for Nonprofit Boards. She is also a recognized trainer through Consultants Psychologists Press Inc (MBTI). and one of only a handful in the world, trained to conduct Psycho-geometrics® (Shapes) communication seminars.

Rose is married to Charlie Snyder who heads up marketing and communication for the College of Fine Arts at the University of Arizona. She is excited to be back in Tucson as she is a proud Alumna of the U of A. Rose and Charlie have three grown children: Carli Rose, Gina Maria, and Sam Andrew.

Shari Stapleton-Smith
(she/her/hers)
ssmith@cfsaz.org
520-209-2862

Shari has been part of the CFSA team for 9 years and loves working with such a caring team who works hard to make an impact every day.  When she’s not helping to keep the office running smoothly, she’s hanging out with her husband, visiting kids and grandkids and volunteering with ESA (Epsilon Sigma Alpha) raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Easter Seals, YWCA programs and other community organizations.

Paula Van Ness
(she/her/hers)
pvanness@cfsaz.org
520-382-5883

Paula Van Ness, MS is a seasoned nonprofit executive with more than 40 years in CEO/Executive Director positions locally and nationally. Previously, she served in the top executive position for Family Planning Centers of Greater LA, AIDS Project Los Angeles, National AIDS Fund, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Starlight Children’s Foundation, Make-A-Wish America, and Connecticut Community Foundation.

She has a master’s degree in organizational development and currently directs the Center for Healthy Nonprofits at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.

Emily Walsh
(she/her/hers)
ewalsh@cfsaz.org
520-209-2867

As a nonprofit, foundation, and higher education advancement professional, Emily has more than 15 years of experience in operations and administration, including technology and business transformation, prospective donor and pipeline development, data analysis, business intelligence, records management, talent development, and strategic planning.

Most recently, Emily served as a Director with BrightVine, a full-service technology firm providing software development, consulting, and advisory services to the nonprofit industry. She brings extensive experience as a people and project leader from her work as Vice President of Strategic Information Services at The University of Arizona Foundation, and as the Senior Director responsible for overseeing Prospect Research, Prospect Management, and Analytics at the University of Chicago.

Emily has also served the Southern Arizona community as a volunteer leader at The Drawing Studio and Tucson Festival of Books, and she recently co-founded Tucson Tome Gnome, a local literary collective that provides free books to inspire literacy, reading, happiness, and kindness throughout Tucson, Arizona.

In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Emily translates the organization’s vision and strategy into integrated operational tactics, strengthening the internal infrastructure needed to support the Foundation’s diverse goals and stakeholders.

Sydney Wells
(she/her/hers)
swells@cfsaz.org
520-770-7898

Sydney Wells has over five years of experience in the nonprofit sector, primarily working with organizations committed to enrichment through child education and disability program development. While earning her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Sociology from the University of Redlands in California, Sydney had the opportunity to study abroad and work with nonprofit organizations internationally. Sydney has since returned to her hometown of Tucson to connect with those that also love Southern Arizona and share a passion for growing its community’s support.

In her free time, Sydney enjoys crafting and DIY projects to add to her home, hiking through Sabino Canyon, and rewatching old movies while snacking on a homemade chocolate treat.

Michael Wiley
(he/him/his)

Mike Wiley has been part of the Finance team at CFSA for three years; he is incredibly grateful to help facilitate donor philanthropy by supporting their grantmaking and fundraising efforts. When he isn’t working, Mike enjoys the great outdoors and spending time on the water or in the woods. Mike recently took a trip to New Orleans and discovered alligators love marshmallows and learned more Nicholas Cage trivia than he ever expected on a cemetery tour.

Caroline Wright
(she/her/hers)
cwright@cfsaz.org
520-770-0800

An AmeriCorps VISTA member, Caroline joined the CFSA Operations Team in November 2022 as Communications Coordinator with the goal of connecting smaller nonprofits in rural communities with the resources they need to thrive and grow. This is her second term as an AmeriCorps VISTA. Last year, Caroline provided grant writing and operational support to a local Tucson nonprofit.

Originally from Colorado, Caroline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance and Accounting from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Master’s Degree in Accountancy from Colorado State University. In her free time, you can find Caroline at the yoga studio, hiking Tumamoc Hill, or in the kitchen cooking a new dish.

Josh Zollinger
(he/him/his)
jzollinger@cfsaz.org
520-209-2554

Josh has lived in Utah, Washington, and Nevada, but has called Tucson home for over two decades. He and his wife met while they were both working for Bookmans. They’ve been together for 20 years and have two sons and two cats. In his free time, Josh enjoys mountain biking, baking, and seeing live music.

Josh has worked for a variety of local businesses in Southern Arizona, from landscaping and carpentry to marketing and operations, and is thrilled to put his time and energy into supporting an organization that does so much for this community