Jerry Bisgrove, Stardust Companies
David Bousquet, Northern Arizona University
Kathy Boyle, Arizona Community College Association
Robert M. Delgado, Hensley & Company
Robert S. & Susan A. Diamond
Robert S. & Susan A. Diamond Fund, Arizona Community Foundation
Robert I. Donofrio, Ed.D., Arizona State University
Wayne Doran, Wayne Doran Foundation
Karen Fisch, Salt River Project
Robin Hanson, Prudential Financial
David A. Highmark, Northern Trust Bank of Arizona
Adrienne Howell, Southwest Gas
Dave Howell, Wells Fargo
Dawn Jones, Intel Corp.
Marion Kelly, Mayo Clinic
Paul Kohn, University of Arizona
Carolyn O’Malley, Dorrance Family Foundation
April Osborn, Ph.D., Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education
Carol Peck, Ed.D., The Rodel Charitable Foundation
James Rund, Arizona State University
Grace Smith, USA Funds
Joel Sideman, Arizona Board of Regents
James K. Zaharis, Ed.D., Greater Phoenix Leadership
Costco Wholesale
Kitchell Corporation
National Education Foundation
BHHS Legacy Foundation
Carstens Family Fund
Dan Quayle Christmas Classic/Thunderbirds Charities
The Ellis Center for Educational Excellence
Helios Education Foundation
Northern Arizona University GEAR UP
Larry and Linda Stuckey

Vince Roig, Board Chairman

Vince is Founder and Chairman of the Helios Education Foundation, the largest education foundation in Arizona. Prior to forming the Foundation, he served as Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Southwest Student Services Corporation, one of the largest independent student lender/servicers in the country, for more than twenty years. In February 2004, the Boards of Directors of Southwest and its affiliates elected to convert and reorganize the companies in order to create the Helios Education Foundation. In a transaction effective October 15, 2005, Helios sold the stock of Southwest Student Services Corporation to SLM Corporation for just over $500 million. The net proceeds of the sale funded the Helios Education Foundation.

[ back to top ]

Don Budinger, Founding Chairman & Vice Chairman

Don Budinger is a founder and the former President of Rodel, Inc. - a garage start up that grew to become the world’s largest manufacturer of the surface finishing chemicals used to make computer chips, rigid memory disks and specialty optics.

When Rodel was sold in 1999, a significant portion of the proceeds was contributed to create The Rodel Foundations. The purpose of the Rodel Foundations is to improve the pre-kindergarten through 12th grade public education systems in Delaware and Arizona so that they will be widely recognized as two of the best in the nation.

Currently, Don is Chairman and Founding Director of the Rodel Foundations, Founding Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, Chairman and a Founding Director of Science Foundation Arizona, Co-Chair of the Coalition for Solutions Through Higher Education, is a member of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council and serves on the board of directors of Greater Phoenix Leadership. In addition, Don serves on the Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee, the O’Connor House Advisory Group and the Metro Phoenix DNA Steering Committee.

Don has been the recipient of several awards including the 2007 inaugural “Techanthropic Award” from a coalition of The Arizona Technology Council, Microsoft Corp. and NPower; the “Science of Early Learning Award” from New Directions Institute; the “Horace Steele Child Advocacy Award” from Children’s Action Alliance, the “Outstanding Achievement in Higher Education” award from the Arizona Board of Regents; the “Homeroom Heroes” award from Teach for America and the “Distinguished Service” award from the University of Arizona College of Engineering.

Mr. Budinger graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964.

[ back to top ]

Frank Brady, Board Member & Treasurer/Secretary

Frank Brady has recently retired as an Audit Partner from Ernst & Young where he worked since 1970. He is the former President of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy and currently serves on the boards of directors of Aztar Corporation, Biltmore Bank, and Sundt Corporation. Frank was chairman of the Catholic Community Foundation from 2002-2004, board member of Boys and Girls Club of Metropolitan Phoenix from 1989-1999 and is a former president of the Paradise Valley Country Club.

[ back to top ]

Bob Craves, Board Member

Bob is Co-founder, Chairman and CEO of the College Success Foundation (CSF). CSF is partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to offer achievers scholarships and mentoring support to approximately 500 highly motivated low-income students per year. CSF also administers the Costco Scholarship Fund. Most recently, CSF secured more than $100 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to implement the CSF model in Washington, DC.

Bob is one of the founding officers of the Costco Wholesale Corporation, a membership warehouse distribution organization based in the Seattle area. Since its start with a single warehouse in Seattle, Costco has grown to become a Fortune 500 company operating 349 stores throughout the Untied States, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia with combined 2000 sales of $32 billion.

Throughout the last 18 years, Bob helped develop and manage a number of functional areas for Costco. As a Senior Vice President he oversaw all Marketing and Membership activities, Community Giving, E-Commerce and Publishing. He continues to oversee Community Giving.

Bob also is the Chairman of the Higher Education Coordinating Board of the State of Washington and co-chair of the Governor's 2020 Commission on the Future of Post-Secondary Education. He sits on the Board of Regents of Seattle University and is a member of the Board of Trustees.

[ back to top ]

Chevy Humphrey, Board Member

Ms. Humphrey was appointed President and CEO of the Arizona Science Center on January 1, 2005. Ms. Humphrey oversees operation of the 162,000-square foot facility with more than 330 employees and volunteers. Exhibitions like The Dinosaurs of Jurassic Park, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit, Dragon Bones: When Dinosaurs Ruled China, Bond. James Bond. The Exhibition., Sesame Street Presents: The Body (world premiere) and the thought provoking Gunther von Hagens' BODY WORLDS 3: The Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies were secured for presentation and opened at the Center under Ms. Humphrey's direction.

During her short tenure and leadership, she has secured the largest gift in the Center's history of $3.5 million and has built a strong working cash capital for reserves. Humphrey continues to lead the Arizona Science Center as a vital contributor to the state's science education infrastructure with a proven track record for interpreting science that serves teachers, families, children, distant communities and adults on a night out. The Science Center employs a range of methods based on research about how people learn and collaborates with like-minded organizations to maximize the benefit to the public, including the Phoenix Public Library system, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, universities, community colleges, TGen, local businesses and more. The Center continues to deliver informal science education to thousands of students, teachers and families-an average of 400,000 people-every year. The five-gallery Center also includes the 285-seat IMAX(r) Theater and the state-of-the-art, domed Dorrance Planetarium.

The square footage includes a new wing funded through the City of Phoenix 2001 bond program that added two more exhibit galleries and an education center. The Arizona Science Center has experienced phenomenal growth in its revenue programs under Ms. Humphrey's direction. Before joining the Science Center, Ms. Humphrey served as the director of development for The Phoenix Symphony and held similar positions at the University of Houston, where she received a B.S. in Chemistry, the University of Texas at Austin Performing Arts Center and The Houston Symphony. She is a member of the Arizona Business Leadership, ARCS and Charter 100, and serves as a commissioner for the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. In 2007, Humphrey was named one of Arizona Foothills Magazine's Top 10 Women Who Move The City.

[ back to top ]

Dr. Paul H. Koehler, Board Member

Paul is the Director of the Policy Center for WestEd. As one of 10 regional education laboratories, WestEd services Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah. In this position, he is responsible for providing information and services to the policymakers in the four-state region. Additionally, Paul has been an education policy advisor for Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano providing consultation, assistance, advice, and research to the Governor on improving the effectiveness of Arizona’s K-12 public education system.

Prior to joining WestEd, Paul served as Superintendent of the Peoria Unified School District, the fourth largest school district in the state, and was Associate Superintendent of the Arizona Department of Education. Paul lists among his many honors being named Arizona’s Superintendent of the Year by the Arizona School Administrators in 1999 and being named to the Executive Education 100. He also holds gubernatorial appointments to the State Conservation Acquisition Board and the Arizona K-12 Finance Efficiency and Accountability Task Force.

[ back to top ]

Dr. Carol Peck, Board Member

In her role as the President and CEO of the Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona, Dr. Carol G. Peck is working diligently to accomplish the vision: to improve Arizona’s education system so that it is widely recognized as one of the best in the country by 2020. For more than 30 years her passion for educational advocacy, conviction that all children can succeed, and spirit of innovative entrepreneurship have sustained a very demanding and successful career.

As the former Alhambra School District Superintendent for 16 years, Dr. Peck created, developed, and implemented a variety of winning programs that significantly raised student achievement in a large urban district. Her business partnership program brought in $1.3 million each year for programs to help ensure the success of Alhambra students. As a business leader, Dr. Peck collaborates with key government, business, and education officials to encourage, support, and facilitate systemic educational changes statewide. She served on the three-member Board of the Maricopa County Regional School District to help oversee and recommend appropriate actions for the troubled district and the Pappas schools. She also writes a regular column for the Arizona Republic, highlighting successful education programs throughout the state.

Dr. Peck has received extensive recognition nationally and statewide including: Valley Leadership’s 2007 Woman of the Year; National Superintendent of the Year; National Administrator of the Year; YWCA Outstanding Educator of the Year; Best of the West Leadership Award; Arizona State University College of Education Hall of Fame and Distinguished Achievement Award; Phoenix Business Journal’s Arizona’s Most Influential People in Education-2002; and Today’s Arizona Woman magazine’s 25 Awesome Arizonans-2002; selected one of The Top Tier Leaders in Arizona by the Arizona Republic-2004, the “Homeroom Heroes” award from Teach for America and featured in “Why You Should Know Her,” in Arizona Woman-2005. As a noted co-author, she stresses the importance of “high, yet realistic goals” in her book, The Best Kept Secret to Achieving Successful School Management. Additionally, Dr. Peck has authored many journal articles and presented on “Raising Student Achievement by Raising Expectations” throughout the United States, China, Australia, and South Africa.

Dr. Peck received her Doctorate Degree in Education Administration from Arizona State University and an honorary doctorate degree from Northern Arizona University. .

[ back to top ]

Dr. Steve Seleznow, Board Member

Dr. Seleznow is a recent arrival to the Valley of the Sun, taking the helm of Arizona’s largest community foundation in early March 2010. Formerly the Deputy Director of the U.S. Program in Education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Dr. Seleznow is a nationally recognized leader in education and philanthropy.

[ back to top ]

Gary Trujillo, Board Member

Gary L. Trujillo founded Southwest Harvard Group (SHG) in 1990 and has served as the firm’s President & CEO since inception..

Southwest Harvard Group has a proven track record, due to its ability to manage the critical resources of its organization to profitability; in particular, these include the focus on its human and financial capital. In 1983, Mr. Trujillo began his career in investment-banking as a financial analyst in institutional sales and trading with Salomon Brothers, Inc. in New York City. He later joined the investment bank RBC Dain Rauscher in San Francisco where he specialized in corporate and public finance. He subsequently served as a staff assistant to L. William Seidman, Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC) in Washington D.C..

Mr. Trujillo has historically been active in Educational issues throughout our country. He has served as the youngest school board member of the Phoenix Union High School District and was appointed by the Governor of the State of Arizona to become the First Chairperson of the Schools Facilities Board. Mr. Trujillo’s most treasured success is the creation of the Roosevelt Community Technology Center (RCTC) in Phoenix, Arizona, the neighborhood where he was born and raise. The RCTC provides state-of-the-art-technology including free internet access – and is available free of charge to any visitor. In addition, he and his wife Melissa started the Be A Leader Foundation (BALF), which serves as an incubator to develop College bound, focused and prepared students. BALF has programs that build self-esteem, leadership skills, promote higher education and mentors students through the stages of their educational and career development. The Trujillo’s have mentored numerous young adults and continue their quest to help others learn how to help themselves. His educational commitment and achievements have been recognized through the following honors and awards: Man of the Year from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Exemplary Leadership Award from Profiles in Success. .

Mr. Trujillo is a Harvard Business School graduate and also holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Arizona State University. He currently serves on the boards of Wells Fargo Bank-Desert Region and BlueCross and BlueShield of Arizona and is a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO).

[ back to top ]

Lisa Budinger, President & CEO

As Chief Executive Officer of Arizona College Scholarship Foundation, Lisa Budinger is diligently working to accomplish the organization’s vision of making a college education a reality for Arizona’s high potential/low income students. A native of Arizona, Ms. Budinger is passionate about education and ensuring that Arizona’s students have the opportunity to attend college, regardless of their financial status.

Lisa is a strategic and visionary leader with a background in communications and management in both corporate and not-for-profit environments. Most recently, she served as a consultant to The Rodel Foundations and Science Foundation Arizona. Prior to that, she created and managed the global training program for Check Point Software Technologies. Lisa received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas Christian University and her Master of Business Administration degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Lisa currently serves as a trustee for All Saints Episcopal Day School, is a member of All A's for Arizona and serves on the steering committees for College Depot and the Arizona Board of Regents Centenial Scholars Program.

[ back to top ]

Marjorie DeRubeis, Director of Education

Marjorie has spent 15 years in academia. During this time, she managed Financial Aid for the Higher Education Opportunity Program at Fordham University, assisting many academically and financially disadvantaged students get a Fordham Education. As a member of NYSFAA for eight years, Marjorie worked on diversity and retention committees to help New York City students succeed in postsecondary education.

In 2000, Marjorie relocated to Arizona and continued her career in academia with leadership positions at Arizona State University and Cook College. She later became the Arizona State Financial Aid Director for the Arizona Commission for Postsecondary Education (ACPE). During her tenure at ACPE She worked with Congress to interpret, write policy and implement new state grants, while improving the procedures of those already in existence. Marjorie was born in the Bronx, and raised in New York City.

[ back to top ]

Brenda Davis, Director of Operations

Brenda has spent more than 30 years in the accounting profession. She has served as office manager for two leading Arizona CPA firms and worked in administration in the banking field. Additionally, she and her husband started the “Madison Basketball Association, a 501(c)(3) organization serving Phoenix youth.

[ back to top ]

Myrna Cardenas, Retention Specialist

Myrna Cardenas hails from Hermiston, Oregon. Myrna began her journey in Phoenix, AZ seven years ago. In 2005, she received a Bachelor of Business Administration from DeVry University. Myrna began her professional career at Wells Fargo as a Business Specialist where she provided support and guidance to small business owners. In 2008 Myrna transitioned to the nonprofit arena where she discovered her true passion in serving youth and promoting higher education. Myrna served as the Mentor Program Manager for the Arizona Quest for Kids organization, in this role she supported the mentor program through the recruitment and retention of volunteer mentors, program planning, and program support. In addition Myrna proved pivotal in transitioning the organization to a full translation of documents by transforming all components into bilingual existence. Currently, Myrna took on the position of Retention Specialist at the Arizona College Scholarship Foundation where she can further explore her passions to directly serve college and university scholarship recipients. Myrna will complete her certificate of Nonprofit Management at the ASU Lodestar Center for Nonprofit Management in the spring of 2011. She looks forward to building and sustaining relationships with the ACSF scholars and surrounding communities.

[ back to top ]

Paul Raia, Retention Specialist

Paul was born in Brooklyn, New York and raised on Long Island. In 1994, he received a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Paul moved to the Valley in 1996 and received his Elementary Education Certificate from Arizona State University. From 2001-2005, he taught fourth grade and general music in the Isaac School District and the Fountain Hills School District, respectively. Prior to joining ACSF, Paul worked for Mesa Community College as an enrollment specialist in the Office of Records and Registration.

[ back to top ]

Judy Ruston, Retention Specialist

Judy brings to ACSF 15 years of Social Work experience. She has worked in the areas of child welfare, foster care and adoption, teen independent living initiative program, elder protective services and medical/hospital case-management and event planning. Judy and her family relocated to Phoenix in 2003 and is thrilled to be back in the human services field and with ACSF. Judy holds a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno.

[ back to top ]