Board of Directors
The Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence
Officers
President
Julie Euber
CEO
SARSEF
Julie Euber is CEO of SARSEF. In this role, she builds and supports
a strong community of staff, board members, partners, and supporters that can strategically bring SARSEF closer to its mission
of creating Arizona’s next generation of critical thinkers and
problem solvers through science and engineering. Previously, she served as TGen’s Manager of Education and Outreach where she increased the community’s working knowledge of genomics and educated, trained, and inspired the next generation of researchers and physicians. She holds a BA in Anthropology and English with a minor in biology from Indiana University and earned her MA in Anthropology with a focus in Bioarchaeology from Arizona State University.
Julie is an alumna of City Year New York and the American Express Leadership Academy at the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. She was President of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Phoenix in 2020, received a Tucson 40 under 40 award in 2021, graduated from the Greater Tucson Leadership Lead Tucson program in 2022, and was a Flinn-Brown Fellow with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation in 2022. Currently, Julie serves as board president of the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence, a member of the Leadership Council for ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, a board member with the Arizona Natural History Museum Foundation, and treasurer of Birdability.
Treasurer
Lisa Murphy
Accounting and Human Resources Director
GCON, Inc.
My personal mission has always been to serve. Starting my career
in the government and nonprofit sectors and then moving to a for profit Construction Company to serve as the VP of Accounting and HR was a big leap later in my career, but it’s been a growth opportunity I couldn’t have fathomed. Find the employer and leaders who match your ethics and personal vision & mission and never stop learning and growing.
GCON is a dynamic, full-service construction management
company serving a diverse portfolio of clients across the US, including high-tech/mission critical to healthcare, education,
office, industrial, retail, and more.
Secretary
Amy Flynn
Technology Continuity and Resiliency, Assistant Vice President
Wells Fargo
Amy is a technology professional with twenty years of nonprofit experience, touching administration, operations and programs.
After roles in various Arizona nonprofits, including as Head of Technology and COO, she made the jump into work at a for-profit
in fintech. While a tough decision, her service at AZCase allows
her to continue to give back to the Arizona community. In her
free time she enjoys traveling with her two kids and trying to
keep up with a high energy cattle dog.
Board Members
Bethany Taylor
President
Good Works Grant Writing
Early in her career, Bethany Taylor realized that volunteering on the weekends alone did not give her the personal satisfaction she was seeking, so she left her job in the entertainment industry and made the switch to the nonprofit sector – and she has never looked back. For more than 20 years now, Bethany has worked as a fundraiser, starting as a major gifts officer for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, later heading up development for the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University, and then serving as the Chief Development Officer for Make-A-Wish® Arizona. In 2011, Bethany launched Good Works Grant Writing as a way to support a variety of nonprofits in their fundraising endeavors. She feels blessed to have had the opportunity to work with dozens of nonprofits since launching the company, helping them fuel their GOOD WORKS in the community. Since its inception, Good Works Grant Writing has secured more than $85 million in government, corporate and foundation grants for our clients. Bethany has earned her Masters in Nonprofit Students from Arizona State University, a bachelor’s in communications and in history from the University of Tennessee, and a certificate in fundraising from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Manny Padia
Recreation Administrator
City of Glendale Parks and Recreation Department
Manny Padia has been playing in parks and recreation for more than 20 years. He’s served as a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University, has worked in several municipalities and is an adjunct faculty at Glendale Community College. He is currently working in the City of Glendale as a Recreation Administrator.
Manny graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Recreation & Tourism Management and from Northern Arizona University with an M. Ed. in Educational Leadership. He is a Certified Parks and Recreation Professional and served a one-year commitment as an After School Ambassador for the National Afterschool Association.
Kari Taylor
Consultant
Kari is an accreditor and consultant for the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence (AZCASE). With over 15 years of experience working with youth, she has been instrumental in shaping impactful programs for children and teens across Arizona. During her 6 years at ICAN, positive programs for youth, Kari oversaw the program area, which included 28 staff members and 500 youth in ICAN’s free after-school program. She played a critical role in expanding ICAN’s program model from one site in downtown Chandler to five sites across multiple cities.
Kari holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa. She is a graduate of ASU’s American Express Leadership Academy for nonprofit leadership (2022) and was named Outstanding Out of School Time Professional for the state of Arizona by AZCASE in 2021. Kari lives in Ahwatukee with her husband and two young children and remains passionate about youth development, continuing to advocate for high-quality programs that empower Arizona’s youth.
Stephen Wright
Attorney
Buchalter
I am a commercial real estate and corporate attorney at Buchalter, PC, with a practice dedicated to guiding clients through complex real estate transactions, development projects, leasing agreements, and the formation of private equity funds and syndication vehicles. I also assist with SEC compliance, ensuring investments meet regulatory standards. As a proud Arizona native and graduate of Saguaro High School, I am deeply connected to the local community and passionate about contributing to its growth through my work.
Cynthia Garcia
Human Services Supervisor
City of Tempe Kid Zone
Brian Carrico
Family and Youth Services Superintendent
Neighborhood and Human Services Department
City of Peoria
Emeritus Board Members
JoAnne Hilde
Facilitator
The Education Coalition
Ruth Solomon
President
Pima County JTED Governing Board
