Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine;
NYT Bestselling Author of Lessons from the Edge

Join us for a fireside chat with Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and WPF’s Board President, Sheila Duffy. Ambassador Yovanovitch, who has decades of experience in Ukraine, Russia, and the many other countries that emerged from the former Soviet Union, will share her insights on the region and the current crisis, as well as experiences from her 33-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service and how she navigated her career as a woman in a predominantly male culture.

Christine Whitney Sanchez

Chief Culture Officer at Arizona State University’s Technology Office and President of Innovation Partners International of the Southwest LLC

Collaborative Strategic Influence:
People Commit to What They Help to Create.
When we think of influence, we typically imagine one person persuading others. The Cambridge English Dictionary tells us that we have influence when we cause someone to change a behavior, belief, or opinion, or to cause something to be changed. What if we consider influence to be a collaborative affair? How do we create the conditions so that those who care to have influence can collaborate, build consensus and commit to action. When formal positional leaders and informal grassroots leaders team up, they can co-design the steps that are informed by intelligence from within the current system and pair it up with the intelligence of the emerging future. Mapping those steps provides a framework for change, which others can see and invest in. In her keynote, Christine will share her large-scale change philosophy and experience as an international consultant and as the Chief Culture Officer for Enterprise Technology at Arizona State University. She will then facilitate a Strategic Influence World Cafe to engage participants in developing a simple action plan for engaging stakeholders in collaborative strategic influence

Sarah Benatar

Coconino County Treasurer

Sarah Benatar has been serving as Coconino County Treasurer since 2014, becoming the youngest County Treasurer ever in the State of Arizona. Since coming to office, she has received national recognition for innovation and efficiency in government finance and treasury management, speaking nationally with organizations such as Governing and being featured in white papers regarding financial best practices. She proudly advocates for her community as an officer of the Arizona County Treasurer’s Association and as 1st Vice President of the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo). She is a voice for rural communities, advocating for her constituents by serving on the board of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and as president of the National Association of Hispanic County Elected Officials (NAHCO). Sarah is an experienced professional in the public sector, having worked for United Way of Northern Arizona, the National Park Service, NASA, and DNA People’s Legal Services. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan, and holds the Certified Government Investment Professional (CGIP) certification. Additionally, she has completed legal coursework at the University of Oregon and holds a certificate in public finance from the University of Missouri. Sarah is the recipient of the IRS Community Service Leadership Award, Young Athena Award, and a fellow of the American Council of Young Political Leaders. She is the proud mother of a three-year-old daughter and a Bichon Frise.

Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; NYT Bestselling Author of Lessons from the Edge

The former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and bestselling author of the memoir Lessons from the Edge shares insights on the region and the current crisis as well as experiences from her 33-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service. Marie Yovanovitch served three times as U.S. Ambassador, most recently in Kyiv as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Previously, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008) and the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011). She retired from the Foreign Service in 2020 and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a non-Resident Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. Born into a family that survived both Soviet and Nazi terror before emigrating to the U.S., Yovanovitch rose to the top of her profession in the crucible of the former USSR. Following early assignments in Moscow, London, Ottawa, and Mogadishu, she served as Deputy Director of the Russia Desk and then, as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she was named Deputy Chief in Ukraine. Within the Department of State, Ambassador Yovanovitch has worked on the Russia desk, the Office of European Security Affairs, and the Operations Center. She also served as the Dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State and as the Deputy Commandant and International Advisor at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University. Ambassador Yovanovitch earned the Senior Foreign Service Performance Award eight times and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award on nine occasions. She is the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the Secretary’s Diplomacy in Human Rights Award. Following her retirement, Ambassador Yovanovitch received the Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy from Georgetown University, the inaugural Richard G. Lugar Award from Indiana University, the 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award from Pen/America, the Morgenthau Award from the Armenian Assembly of America, the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service from the Common Good, and the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. In early 2022, Marie Yovanovitch’s memoir, Lessons From The Edge, was an instant New York Times bestseller. The late Madeleine Albright called the book “A brilliant, engaging, and inspiring memoir from one of America’s wisest and most courageous diplomats—essential reading for current policymakers, aspiring public servants, and anyone who cares about America’s role in the world.”

Christine Whitney Sanchez

Chief Culture Officer at Arizona State University’s Technology Office and President of Innovation Partners International of the Southwest LLC

Christine Whitney Sanchez is a social entrepreneur, consultant, coach, and architect of large-scale transformation. She has worked across five continents to build the capacity for mindful leadership, strategic collaboration and thriving organizations and communities Known around the world as a pioneer in blending collaborative methods and mindful practices to engage groups of 10 to 10,000, Christine has trained thousands of consultants and change leaders in strength-based approaches to leadership and organization development. Integrating her expertise as a psychotherapist into her work as a consultant, professor, coach and architect of large-scale transformation, Christine has guided tens of thousands of stakeholders to dissolve barriers to communication, resolve thorny issues and generate new opportunities. Taking a holistic approach to change, she engages the whole system to build on strengths, disrupt the status quo, envision a desired future and create the conditions for success. She has facilitated some of the largest intergenerational conversations in the world. And that is what brings her joy. She has a BA in Sociology from the University of Hawaii and a Master of Counseling degree from Arizona State University. She has been on faculty at Arizona State University where she taught leadership and at Claremont Lincoln University when she taught mindfulness. Her husband and Christine live near their children and grandchildren. Christine engages in daily life as spiritual practice through yoga, hiking, swimming, global travel, and photography.

Nicole Lance

CEO of Lance Strategies and Managing Partner of Extraordinary Balance

Nicole Lance is the CEO of Lance Strategies and Managing Partner of Extraordinary Balance, a consulting firm specializing in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work and Strategic Planning. Having spent almost 13 years in the trenches of local government before launching her own business, Nicole now spends her time facilitating, speaking, training, and doing executive coaching. She is a co-founder of Arizona Women Leading Government and a Board member for Arizona's Children Association. Nicole is an Arizona native happily married to her husband, Sean, a high school teacher. She is a proud stepmom to a U.S. Navy Sailor and also a mom to a 4-year-old. Nicole spends her free time trying not to step on the Legos her daughter leaves dangerously hidden in the carpet.

Sintra Hoffman

President and CEO at WESTMARC

representing the West Valley of Metro Phoenix

Sintra Hoffman's career includes over 20 years in local, state and federal government. Currently, she convenes 15 West Valley communities to focus on quality economic growth for the region. Prior roles include ADOT, Assistant Division Director and the City of Surprise, Deputy City Manager and Intergovernmental Relations Director. She serves on community and education Boards to promote workforce and economic development. Recognitions:

• Phoenix Business Journal – Outstanding Women in Business – 2022
• BMO Bank – Women Who Lead – 2019
• Estrella Mountain Community College Education Hero – 2019
• Arizona Business Magazine - Most Influential Women in 2016.

Dawn Lang

Deputy City Manager | CFO, City of Chandler Arizona

Dawn Lang has been with the City of Chandler Arizona (population 283,000) for over 15 years, appointed as Deputy City Manager|CFO, in August 2021. She is responsible for overseeing the Management Services Department which includes all financial functions for the City (i.e, Accounting, Budget, Tax and Licensing, Utility Services, Purchasing), as well as the Departments of Information Technology and Fleet & Facilities. Dawn has over 24 years’ experience in municipal government finance and has served on the national Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Executive Committee, previously on the GFOA committee of Budget and Fiscal Policy, and the committee of Accounting, Auditing and Financial Reporting. Prior to coming to Chandler, Arizona, Dawn was the Finance Officer for a small City in Oregon, and then became the Assistant Finance Director, then Budget Director for the City of Dubuque, Iowa (population 60,000) for 7 years. Before her career in municipal government finance, she obtained experience in trust accounting, public accounting, and tax and corporate finance. Dawn obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Accounting from Montana State University – Billings and has her CPA.

Angela Bricmont

CFO Denver Water

Angela Bricmont is the CFO of Denver Water. She manages the financial resources of the Board of Water Commissioners, a 100+ year old water utility serving 1.5 million customers in the City of Denver and surrounding suburbs. Angela is responsible for accounting, financial planning and performance, treasury, rates and customer care in addition to managing several retirement plans. Prior to Denver Water, Angela worked for several consulting firms focused on financial planning and rates for public utilities. Angela also served as Director of Budget and Operations at the University of Denver, and Vice President of Rates and Regulatory Matters for Comcast. Angela has a bachelor’s degree in Finance and an MBA from the University of Denver. Angela was appointed by the Mayor of Denver to serve on the Denver Urban Renewal Authority Board, and she was appointed to serve on EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board. Angela Bricmont is the past Foundation Chair of the Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Margaret Danuser

CFO for the City and County of Denver

Margaret Danuser is the CFO for the City and County of Denver and has served in this role since 2017. Her work involves directing and supporting Mayoral and the Department of Finance’s objectives, and in coordination with the CFO, providing oversight of departmental leadership, strategic initiatives and complex projects. Her recent portfolio of work includes federal funding guidance and allocation, including American Rescue Plan Act, Coronavirus Relief Fund (CARES), and Federal Emergency Management Agency funds, as well as Social Impact Bond projects, and a public/private partnership for the largest sewer heat recovery system in North America. This is Margaret’s second stint at the City, having overseen the administration and issuance of the City and Airport’s $6 billion bond portfolio from 2007-2010. Ms. Danuser worked for the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) during the interim period, where she served as the Director of Finance and was a member of the Strategic Management Team. While at CHFA, she oversaw CHFA’s $2 billion debt portfolio, multi-family financing activities, single family secondary marketing program, as well as treasury and investment activities. Prior to her time in public service, Ms. Danuser worked in the private sector, as a mutual fund and investment manager, and in the capital markets. She holds a BA in International Affairs from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Margaret has three sons with her husband Garry and is learning to sail to enjoy during their frequent visits to the Great Lakes.

Melissa Smith

Managing Director, JPMorgan Chase

Melissa Smith is the Head of Specialized Industries for JPMorgan’s Middle Market Banking & Specialized Industries (MMBSI) business. She leads a team of national managers responsible for industry verticals including Technology and Disruptive Commerce, Life Sciences, Healthcare Services, Agribusiness, Apparel, Beverage, Green Economy, Franchise, Media & Entertainment, and MNC. The industry teams provide traditional banking services and investment banking solutions to mid-cap sized companies across the country. Melissa is also responsible for the Government, Healthcare, Higher Ed, and Not-for-Profit businesses within MMBSI and sits on the Operating Committee for the Commercial Bank. . Melissa joined the firm in 1998 in Public Finance and spent much of her career in the Corporate & Investment Bank (CIB), including as the Head of EMEA Investment Grade Finance in London. Prior to her London move, she spent 14 years in the Debt Capital Markets group in New York as the Head of the Consumer, Retail, Healthcare and Chemicals team. Melissa received a BA in Political Science from American University and a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. Since 2009, she has served on the Board of Trustees of American Ballet Theatre. She is currently a Fellow of the 2019 class of the Finance Leaders Fellowship at the Aspen Institute.

Maria C. Sazon

Director, Public Finance Underwriting
Assured Guaranty

Maria Sazon has been a Director in the Public Finance Group of Assured Guaranty since July 2013. As a senior underwriter, Maria covers a wide range of tax-backed and enterprise credits including airports, public higher education institutions, special assessment districts, and redevelopment authorities. Prior to Assured Guaranty, Maria was a Vice President and senior municipal research analyst in the Fixed Income Group of asset management company AllianceBernstein for 13 years. In that position, Maria made investment recommendations for the tax-exempt portfolios that included investment grade and non-investment grade credits. Maria also held positions in policymaking and advocacy for charter schools at the state and national levels, specifically for facilities financing and fiscal policies. Maria was the former Director of School Finance at the State University of New York (SUNY) Charter Schools Institute and before that, the Senior Director of Facilities Initiatives at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C. Maria is a member of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts (NFMA), Municipal Analysts Group of New York (MAGNY) and the Northeast Women in Public Finance.
Maria holds a B.S. Degree in Business Management from Saint Peter's University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She has an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University.

Tina Wilson

Deputy Chief Financial Officer,
City of Atlanta

Tina Wilson is the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for the City of Atlanta, where she is responsible for the Office of Revenue, Enterprise Risk Management, and Budget and Fiscal Policy.
Tina has worked in progressive roles within finance and accounting for more than 25 years. Her experience includes strategic financial and business planning, budgeting, forecasting and productivity modeling, information systems, audit, internal control, and financial analysis and management reporting within both the public and private sectors. Before joining the City of Atlanta, Tina was the Director of Capital Finance for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, working to develop and implement the capital financing plans and funding strategies for two major, multi-billion dollar capital improvement programs.
Tina is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Mercer University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Georgia State University.

Treena Parvello

Director of Government & Public Relations

Treena Parvello serves as a Director for the Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise/Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment. Desert Diamond Casinos employs more than 3,000 team members at four different properties across Arizona in the Southern Arizona and Phoenix metropolitan areas. Treena has held roles as Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Assistant Director and other positions over her 20 plus years with the Gaming Enterprise. In her current position, Treena oversees all public outreach, community engagement and government relations on behalf of the Enterprise in each market. Through her experience, background and strengths she plays a direct role in the partnerships, collaboration and representation of the generous contributions made by the Gaming Enterprise in Southern Arizona and Maricopa County.
Treena is a proud University of Arizona Wildcat with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration and an MBA, both earned from the Eller College of Management. She believes in a continuous learning process in personal and professional surroundings. Treena is proud to be from the Tohono O’odham Nation on her father’s side and the San Carlos Apache Tribe on her mother’s side.

Jenilyn Braegger

Yoga Instructor

Jenilyn brings expertise to her yoga classes from her years as a professional dancer and educator. She teaches from an anatomical viewpoint and encourages students to reinforce patterns of self-trust and center.

Emily Blanche

Sound Healing Instructor

Emily Blanche is a compassionate teacher, intuitive and dedicated healer. In addition to being a certified Reiki Master, Yoga & Meditation Teacher and Sound Healer, Emily holds a BFA in art, minor in Religion from ASU. She is the owner of Gold Lion Healing Arts specializing in energy work, yoga, meditation, sound healing and ritual self care products. With over two decades of experience, Emily serves a diverse population which includes people of all ages, experience levels, and physical abilities.