Mayor Kevin Hartke – Bio
Mayor Kevin Hartke began his term in January 2019. He previously served nine years on the City Council, first as an interim Councilmember in 2008, and then was elected to consecutive terms and served from January 2011 to January 2019. Kevin served as Vice Mayor twice, in 2015 and 2017.

Mayor Hartke and his wife, Lynne, have been married for 39 years and have lived in Chandler since 1985. He served as Lead Pastor at Trinity Christian Fellowship in Chandler where he worked from 1985-2018. He has a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri, Columbia; and a master’s degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He served as the statewide director of For Our City for nine years, which is a collaborative effort of government, business, nonprofit and faith leaders gathered to find solutions for needs in a community.

Edith Baltierrez – Bio
Edith Baltierrez has 16 years of local government experience, currently serving as the Assistant Director with the City of Avondale Neighborhood and Family Services Department in Arizona.

Ms. Baltierrez helps oversee the Avondale Neighborhood Family Services Department which includes the divisions of Family Services, Homeless Services, Housing & Community Development, Senior Services and Youth & Community Engagement.

Prior to joining Avondale, Edith was the Human Services & Community Vitality Department Supervisor for the City of Surprise Resource Center. Prior to her work in Surprise, she held various managerial roles with the City of Phoenix Public Works Department.

Ms. Baltierrez holds two degrees from Arizona State University, a Bachelor’s in Global Business, and a Master’s in Public Administration.

Jenna Goad – Bio
Jenna Goad has more than 17 years of government experience and currently serves as the Assistant to the City Manager in Goodyear, AZ where she oversees the city’s strategic planning and performance measurement programs, as well as supervises the City Council Office staff and the Neighborhood Services division, in addition to other special projects. Previously, Jenna served in a variety of roles with the city of Glendale, AZ specializing in public affairs and intergovernmental relations, and in two different roles with the state of Arizona. Jenna earned a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Arizona State University. Jenna also has a professional certificate in advanced public engagement for local government from Pepperdine University and was awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, July 2023, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education. She serves on the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA) Board of Directors and is a member of the International City Management Association (ICMA).

Stacy Hettmansperger – Bio
Stacy Hettmansperger currently serves as a Solid Waste Administrator with the City of Phoenix Public Works Department where she oversees environmental compliance and SR85 Landfill operations for the Solid Waste Diversion and Disposal Division, including a team of 25 employees. She also coordinates federal grant applications for the solid waste utility and is researching options to increase diversion of organics from the landfill. Stacy returned to the City of Phoenix Public Works Department in September 2021 to serve as a Management Assistant II in the Director’s Office. Stacy previously served as the Senior Management Analyst with the City of Avondale’s Fire and Medical Department overseeing their payroll, budget and procurement functions in close partnership with the Finance and Human Resources departments. Stacy also helped the department develop a data driven fire apparatus replacement schedule. For her service to the Fire and Medical Department, Stacy received honorary firefighter credentials.

Prior to joining the City of Avondale, Stacy served over eight years with the City of Phoenix, seven of which were in the Public Works Department Facilities Management and Solid Waste Diversion and Disposal Divisions. Stacy began her career with the City of Phoenix as a Management Fellow serving in the City Manager’s Office, Water Services Department and Public Works Department during the year long program. During Stacy’s tenure as a Management Assistant I in the Facilities Management Division and Administrative Assistant II in Diversion and Disposal Division, Stacy gained experience overseeing complex operating and Capital Improvement Program budgets, writing city council reports, monitoring contracts and responding to city audits. Stacy promoted to Public Works Operations Manager in 2015 where she oversaw the construction and start-up operations of the City’s award-winning industrial scale compost facility as well as the 27th Avenue Transfer Station and recycling operations. In 2017 Stacy was awarded Operations Manager of the Year by the Arizona Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America.

Stacy earned a master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Urban Management from Arizona State University during which time she served as a Marvin Andrews Fellow. Stacy also holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University in Political Science.

Deb Ostreicher – Bio
Deborah Ostreicher created Distinguished Communications because she is passionate about communication and believes it is a cornerstone of success in any field. Helping individuals and teams to develop and present clear messages with confidence is what Deborah finds most rewarding about her work. She spent ten years working around the globe, including as Marketing Director for a multi-national hi-tech company in Central Europe, and as Events Manager for King Charles III in the U.K. During her 24-year career at the City of Phoenix, she served as Communications Director, Chief of Staff to Mayor Thelda Williams, and Assistant Director of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. She credits her success in business largely to her ability to communicate effectively and now teaches individuals and teams to do the same. Her book, Enter, Enlighten, and Exit is a simple guide to making clear, concise, and compelling presentations. She earned her undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park; her MBA in International Business at the American University, Washington, D.C. and her certificate in Leadership Communications from Harvard University, Cambridge.

Samantha Corrales – Bio
Samantha Corrales has a strong passion for public service and making a positive impact in her community. Currently serving as the Senior Human Resources Analyst at the City of Avondale, Samantha plays a pivotal role in supporting numerous departments in a variety of HR functions, including employee relations, classification and compensation, recruitment and selection, and, training and development. Samantha’s dedication to local government began with positions at the City of Maricopa, City of Phoenix, and Arizona League of Cities and Towns. In 2022, Samantha graduated as a Marvin Andrews Fellow and was recognized as the Graduate Student of the Year. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public policy and service, and a master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Cassie Johnson – Bio
Cassie Johnson is the Director of the Strategic Initiatives Division with the Scottsdale Police Department. In this role, she oversees the Planning, Research, & Accreditation, Budget & Finance, and Records sections. Cassie oversees many high-profile projects for the department with an expertise in the areas of performance measures, strategic planning, process improvement, workload analysis, policy, UCR, and data analytics. She manages the department’s law enforcement accreditation process (both CALEA and ALEAP) and supports other state agencies as the President of the Arizona Police Accreditation. Ms. Johnson serves as a liaison with the City Manager’s office representing the police department on several city wide initiatives and teams, including leading the City’s High Performance and Innovation Team.

She holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Madalaine McConville – Bio
Madalaine McConville currently serves as a Council Aide in the City of Tempe’s City Manager’s Office after working for two years as Tempe’s Marvin Andrews Fellow. She continues to manage high-level projects and plays a central role working on critical initiatives impacting the city and its residents. Madalaine’s passion for public service was spurred by her grandmother who became the first female village president and made an everlasting impact on her community. Madalaine holds a Master of Public Policy from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Applied Social Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She was recognized for her outstanding demonstration of commitment to local government by earning the ICMA Early Career Service Certificate in May of 2023.


Haylie Smith – Bio
Haylie Smith is an Arizona native and was raised in Prescott, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University, receiving her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychological Sciences, with a minor in Vocal Performance and her Master’s of Public Administration (MPA) degree, with a concentration in Urban Management. After graduating from ASU, Haylie started working for the City of Mesa as a Management Analyst in the Office of Management and Budget where she served as the budget liaison and analyst for various departments and worked on special projects. Haylie then became the Management Assistant II for the City of Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities Department where she manages the internal support teams of Marketing, Information Technology, and Business Services. In this role, Haylie also serves as the department grant coordinator, data coordinator, public information representative, and accreditation manager. She loves her job and is excited to continue to give back to her community and profession.

Stephanie Zamora – Bio
Stephanie Zamora joined the City of Scottsdale as Management Associate to the City Manager in May 2022 after serving as Management Fellow from August 2021 to May 2022. Previously, she served as Public Information Officer for the Town of Guadalupe and Advocacy Director for the Colibri Center for Human Rights. Stephanie also studied at Arizona State University as a Marvin Andrews Fellow.

As Scottsdale Management Associate to the City Manager, Stephanie works with many city departments and staff to collaborate on innovative, sustainable, and equitable solutions. In particular, Stephanie focuses on developing work-based learning programs to encourage students to join public service. To develop this initiative, she completed the Harvard Kennedy School Implementing Public Policy Executive Education Program following her graduate studies. While with the Town of Guadalupe, she created and distributed culturally and linguistically appropriate digital and traditional communications as part of the town’s COVID-19 Response Team which earned them the ASU President’s Medal for Social Embeddedness in 2021.

Stephanie has carried her passion for advocacy from non-profit human rights work to local government. She is an articulate leader and a lifelong learner, having completed her undergraduate degree in anthropology and linguistics from the University of Arizona in 2017, and her Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University in 2022. As a result of her commitment to bettering the lives of Arizonans, Stephanie earned a Gabe Zimmerman Public Service Award as the 2023 Emerging Leader.

Dominic DeCono – Bio
Dominic DeCono Father, husband, parks and recreation professional, avid gamer and sports fan.






Liana Bell – Bio
Liana Bell works for the City of Avondale in their Human Resources department as their Organizational Development / Training Manager. Liana has worked in the public sector since 2019. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Master’s in Business Administration.





Allie Cervantes – Bio
Allie Cervantes is the Workforce Development Coordinator for Arizona@Work Maricopa County and the City of Avondale. She has over eight (8) years of workforce development experience in government, higher education, and nonprofit sectors. She has developed a robust network of professionals, businesses, and community organizations to provide services to individuals wanting to gain employment, upskill, or reskill into a new career. Allie has spear-headed hiring events, job training curriculum, and has connected hundreds of individuals with job opportunities throughout her career. She holds a Bachelor’s in Public Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration. Allie’s favorite motivational quote is: “The expert in anything was once a beginner”- Helen Hayes. Allie enjoys the outdoors: hiking and camping, attempting to garden, and trying new things.

LaTisha Gilmore – Bio
LaTisha Gilmore (she/her) is a tribal citizen of the Diné (Navajo) Nation. She is a Management Assistant in the City of Chandler Neighborhood Resources department. Before joining the City of Chandler, LaTisha held office coordinator and administrative positions at the tribal government and non-profit levels. LaTisha has a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University and a B.S. in Criminology/Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University.

Joanne Keene – Bio
Joanne Keene joined the City as Deputy City Manager in June of 2023. Prior to working at the City, Keene served as the Deputy City Manager for the City of Sedona, a Deputy County Manager for Coconino County and the Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff at Northern Arizona University. Joanne has twenty-five years in federal, state and local government roles serving the State of Arizona, including Government Relations Director for Coconino County and Public Information Officer for the Arizona Department of Water Resources. Joanne spent eight years working for the U.S. House of Representatives, five of those years in Washington, DC. Joanne and her husband John have lived in Flagstaff for almost 20 years. Joanne is a Northern Arizona University graduate with a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in English and broadcast journalism. Joanne is also a Certified Public Manager through Arizona State University.


Leo Lew – Bio
Leo Lew was appointed County Manager by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors on March 3, 2021, stepping up from the role of Deputy County Manager, a position he held since 2013.

Leo is a member of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), an association of more than 11,000 members dedicated to creating and supporting thriving communities worldwide. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Arizona City/County Management Association (ACMA), the Leadership Development Advisory Committee for ICMA, and on the Academic Advisory Council for the School of Public Affairs at Arizona State University.

He has served in local government for over 18 years, having previously worked for the cities of Sacramento, CA, and Scottsdale, AZ.

As a strong proponent of leadership development, he has completed the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia and the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard Kennedy School. He has a Bachelor's in Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant, having begun his professional career with Deloitte, a Big Four professional services firm.

Leo enjoys surfing, mountain biking, paddle boarding, yoga, live music, and spending time with family.

Ian McGaughey – Bio
Ian McGaughey was named County Administrator for Yuma County in June 2022 after serving two years as Deputy County Administrator. He has 18 years of local government experience, including serving as City Manager for Somerton, Arizona, Town Manager for Clifton, Arizona, a department director in Tribal local government in Alaska, and as an elected Council member for a city in New York. He has broad experience in the private sector, including small-business ownership, professional communications experience, and public relations responsibilities. Ian holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from American University in Washington, DC, and a Master of Public Administration from Arkansas State University. He has been an ICMA Credentialed Manager since 2020, demonstrating a commitment to the highest standards of the profession.

Wynette Reed – Bio
Wynette Reed was appointed City Manager in February. Wynette has more than 36 years of municipal government experience, including over 25 years in management/leadership roles.

She came to Goodyear in 2011 as the city's Human Resources Director and was soon promoted to Deputy City Manager in March 2013 and has overseen every department in the city during her tenure.

Prior to joining Goodyear, Reed held the Human Resources Director position for the City of Peoria for 3½ years. Before making her home in Arizona in 2008, she served as HR Director for Larimer County and Assistant HR Director for Fort Collins, Colorado. Reed has experience in strategic planning, organizational development and human capital planning. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership. She was also awarded a certificate of completion for the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program, July 2015, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Executive Education. Reed has demonstrated her leadership acumen throughout her career through building collaborative relationships and a focus on innovative thinking.

Joshua Wright – Bio
Joshua Wright was named City Manager in August 2021. Previously, he served as the City of Chandler's Assistant City Manager since May 2017. He also served as the town manager of Wickenburg, Arizona, from 2011 to 2017. Prior to Wickenburg, Wright worked at the Town of Marana, Arizona, from 2006 to 2011 in a variety of roles, including assistant to the town manager and director of strategic initiatives.

Wright is a past president of the Arizona City/County Management Association and received its Associate's Award for Excellence in Leadership in 2010. He also was named Economic Developer of the Year by the Arizona Association for Economic Development in 2011. He holds a master’s degree in public administration and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and religious studies from the University of Arizona.