Sharon Moyer, JD, Board President
Supervising Attorney, ASU Alumni Law Group
Trish Robinson, BA, Board Vice-President
Vice President of Programs, Association for Supportive Childcare
Momma of 2 bold and never tired kids and a lifelong lover of social impact and building strong communities. Executive with nearly 20 years of experience putting relationships first and cultivating resources across verticals in; education, public health, and human services. Always an optimist I believe that all things start with quality relationships. Running keeps me somewhat sane, and I usually have three books started on my nightstand at all times, and audiobook in play for the morning walks with the dog.
Kelly Carbone, MEd, Board Secretary
Principal, Mesa Center for Success West
Kelly moved to the West Valley in 2014 with her husband and four children ranging in ages from 8 to 23 from Northern Illinois. Kelly graduated from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, with a Master’s of Educational Administration. In addition, she holds a Master’s of Elementary/Special Education from National Louis University in Chicago, Illinois.
Kelly has worked in the field of special education for eight years. She is currently the principal of Mesa Center for Success West, a public/private partnership school with the Menta Group® and Mesa Public Schools. The Menta Group® is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973 that offers specialized programming and services to at-risk and special education students. Previously, Kelly was the Assistant Principal for a partnering Menta school, Southwest Academy, in Phoenix for two years. Kelly also teaches Introduction to Special Education and Parental/Family Involvement in Special Education with Arizona State University.
Alan R. Tinsley, Treasurer
Director Of Operations, Tinsley Retail Insights
Michael A. Chapnek, MBA, Board Member
Senior Vice President, Operations Research Manager, Bank of America
Charles Douglass, MBA, Board Member
Owner/Publisher, Attorney At Law Magazine
Stacy Jantzi, MS, PhDc, Board Member
Program Director, Menta Academy Yuma
Stacy is a dreamer, doer, proud military spouse, and mom of two incredible kids, having experienced firsthand the impact that exceptional needs places on family, school community, and demands therein.
Stacy was driven to expand her education to bring the best for her own children and share her passion to provide the most up to date options for children in and out of the school setting. Through ABA principles, rapport building, programmed instruction, natural environment teaching techniques, functional learning opportunities to connect children with the most desirable long term outcome, leisure skills development, employment and other meaningful and relevant opportunities for the present and future for students and families in the Yuma, AZ community, she seeks all opportunities. Stacy pursued her master’s in child & adolescent psychology, BCBA respecialization, and doctorate in applied behavior analysis. Stacy seeks to help create connections for families in the exceptional community for fellowship by creating a platform for connections in social and support group settings. Exceptional families are not alone, Stacy believes the support network is part of the tremendous rate of success, and being a part of Raising Special Kids (as a recipient of support for more than 5 years), RSK is also a part of her toolbox to share with families across AZ, as families really do help families.
Stacy is the program director of Menta Academy Yuma, opened in 2017, by The Menta Group, (a not-for-profit organization founded in 1973) called to Yuma by the families and community stakeholders to provide an additional layer support for the incredible school districts, working as a team providing specialized educational opportunities for children with exceptional needs as well as at-risk youth. Stacy works tirelessly with partner schools and families together to develop the programs that support the students in school and works with parents and providers outside of the school setting to help develop meaningful interventions & connections that create long term change for the betterment of child, family, and all community stakeholders.
Jennifer Kupiszewski, Esq., Board Member
Of-Counsel, Mazza Law Firm PLC
Before going into private practice Jennifer represented the Arizona Department of Economic Security/Child Protective Services Division in juvenile court cases involving dependency, severance and guardianship matters. At the Arizona Center for Disability Law she was co-counsel on the class action lawsuit against the State of Arizona, Jason K. v. Eden, to obtain mental health services for children. Jennifer also represented the Maricopa County Public Fiduciary in court cases involving adult guardianship and conservatorships.
Currently, in private practice since 2007 Jennifer practices in areas of elder, juvenile, and probate law. Her practice focuses on cases involving adults and children with special health care needs and non-traditional families. Jennifer represents families in matters in which there has been abuse, neglect, and/or financial exploitation or when a loved one becomes incapacitated.
Jennifer is married to Steve Kupiszewski and they have a blended family of five children plus one grandchild! Greatest accomplishment, they are five-for-five on college graduates and all the children are full-time employed.
Erika LeBlanc, Board Member
First Officer, American Airlines
Mallory Lee, Board Member
Customer Success Manager, Veeam Software
Lynda Mills, EdD, Board Member
Director of Special Education, EBS Schools/EBS Healthcare
Dr. Mills holds a bachelor’s degree in special education, a master’s degree in elementary education and a doctorate in educational leadership. She has worked in the field of special education for more than 26 years. This includes 15 years of special education classroom teaching experience across the continuum, and 11 years serving in a variety of special education leadership capacities in public, nonprofit and private sectors, in both Colorado and Arizona. Lynda worked as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Phoenix for eight years and served as a Curricular Consultant for the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, writing two early childhood special education certification courses for the college.
While working as a director of special education for a public school district in the West Valley, Lynda became more familiar with Raising Special Kids and has been an advocate for the organization and its mission ever since. Lynda has a wealth of experience as a parent of a child with unique medical needs and as an educator and administrator for children with exceptionalities. She is passionate about cross-sector collaboration, parent partnerships and effective approaches for implementing change and is excited about supporting the mission of Raising Special Kids.
Jill A. Nico, MS, Board Member
Student Services Manager, Disability Resources & Services, GateWay Community College
Advisory Council
Lisa Aaroe, Grand Canyon University
Mary Allare, MD Neonatologist
Jack Alspaugh, Gary Insurance Company
Kevin Bonner, Fennemore Craig
Paula Banahan, Arizona Heart Foundation
Barbara Brent, National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
Heather Buchta, Quarles Brady Streich & Lang
Linda Cannon, Cannon & Associates
Jim Cole, AZ Family Channel 3
Bob Cox, Nothing But Net
Elaine Ellis, MD
Jodi Feuerhelm, Perkins Coie Brown & Bain
Elizabeth Freeburg
Tonya Gray, ASU Alumni Association
Conrad Greene, Asset Based Capital
Brad Harper, Trigon Executive Assessment Center
Miriam Hayanga, Realtor
Helen Holden,Spencer Fane
Mary Holman, Comerica Bank
Shirley Kaufman, Retired Attorney
Dan Kessler MD,
Ellen & Bill Leibow
Gina Maravilla, AzFamily.com
Susan Morris, Southwest Performance Group
Michael Remus, Director of Student Services, Sedona-Oak Creek Unified School District
Susan Riedel, Modern Woodmen Of America
Carolyn Sechler, Sechler CPA, PC
Mary Slaughter, Consultant
Chuck Smith
Karen Smith, Heinfeld Meech & Co.
Bill Spain, Provident Partners Companies
Don Storrs
Janelle Tassart, Development & Communications Manager, Gompers
Susan Voirol, Sonoran UCEDD
Debbie Voll, Paradise Valley Unified School District
Tim Watters, Colliers International