Leadership Team

Leading Us in the Right Direction

From our Executive Team to our Board of Directors, Big Brothers Big Sisters has a compassionate and dedicated group of individuals on our side that are willing to do whatever it takes to help change children’s lives for the better.

Mike Suriano, CPA, Board Chair

Mike was elected to the BBBSAZ Board of Directors in 2017. He has served as Finance Committee Chair and has also served on the Governance and Executive Committees. Mike and his wife, Lori were recently matched with a "Little" and are excited to begin their mentorship as "Bigs" (volunteer mentors).

Mike is a retired financial executive with broad business and leadership experience. His career included senior leadership positions with companies specializing in food manufacturing, distribution, and foodservice. His most recent position was serving as the CFO of a foodservice management company dedicated exclusively to child nutrition. Service to the community and social consciousness are integral to Mike’s core values. In addition to his volunteer experience with BBBSAZ, Mike presently serves as Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair for United Food Bank. He previously served in a similar capacity with Waste Not. Mike also loves spending time with his family, which includes his two daughters, traveling, hiking, and spending time with good friends.

Laura Capello
President & Chief Executive Officer

Laura Capello joined Big Brothers Big Sisters in May 2011 as Vice President of Marketing and Development and is very familiar with the agency as she served in a similar capacity from March 1998 until Feb 2005. Prior to her return to the organization, she served as the Manager of Community Relations and Special Projects at the Arizona State University Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation. She also worked as a consultant for four years helping several nonprofit and for-profit clients with their marketing and special events needs, including Mesa Arts Center, the Celebrity Fight Night Foundation, The Arthritis Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Chaparral Suites, Eight, Arizona PBS and Luke Air Force Base.

Laura believes giving back is one of the most important things she can do, so she continues to stay active in her community. She is currently a board member for Seeds for Autism, an organization that provides a path from " learning to earning" for young adults with autism. She also recently became an inaugural board member for the Young & Empowered Women's Association, whose mission is to provide professional development and networking opportunities to a diverse group of rising female leaders that are passionate about service, career advancement, and empowering others. She is a member of Valley Leadership Class XXV and stays involved with its Leadership Institute and programs as well as Charter 100.

She was named as one of the "Most Admired Leaders" from Phoenix Business Magazine in 2019, and as a "Difference Maker" from TIAA in 2018. She has also been recognized as a Sun Devil 100 for the last 3 years. This award recognizes ASU Alumni who run or own their own business.

Laura earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. She resides in Mesa, Arizona, and loves to spend time with her family.

Board of Directors

*Note: All Board Members are voting members and vote regularly during board meetings

Mike Suriano, CPA
Board Chair
Executive Committee Chair

Teresa Strunk
Past Board Chair
VP & Employee Benefits Consultant
Strunk Insurance Group

Bruce Weber
Board Vice Chair
President/CEO
Weber Group

LeAnn Rudolph
Treasurer
Finance/Audit Committee Chair
Partner
Eide Bailly LLP

Matt Manoogian
Secretary
Co-Owner/Founder, Realtor
Good Company Real Estate

Nikki Amberg
Principal
Zonacajun Consulting

Nick Boggs, MBA
Principal
Clutch Projects, LLC

Shane Carlin
Consultant
Point B

Christopher Dang
Partner
Quarles & Brady

Tracy Dick
At-Large Executive Committee Member
VP of Brand Strategy, Integrated Marketing and Public Relations
Leslie's Pool Supplies

Jennifer Holsman Tetreault
Governance Committee Chair
Vice President & Associate General Counsel
TPI Composites, Inc.

David Jackson
Partner
Lewis Roca Law Firm

Todd Leach
CEO
Rhino Innovations Group

Keisha McKinnor
President/CEO
MKUU, Inc.

Karie Montague
Chief Executive Chair & Key Executive Chair
Vistage International

Geoffrey Nail
Independent Broker/Registered Representative
MassMutual: Insurance & Financial Services
Northwestern Mutual: Insurance & Financial Services
Financial Services Coach
Tempe Community Action Agency

Howard Nute
USE Properties Member

Kelly Ruud
Vice President of Finance
CopperPoint Insurance Companies

Michael Sabetta
Senior Vice President/Senior Private Banker
UMB Private Bank

Michael Swiszcz
Senior Executive Recruiter
Intersect Group

Tiffanie Tallman
Sr. Manager, Corporate Partnership Development
Arizona Diamondbacks

Brian Wempen
Community Outreach Chair
National Sales Manager
Cox Media

Kyle Wilson
VP of Product & Technology
Design Pickle

Brian Wood
At-Large Executive Committee Member
Founder
Mars Coaching

Vashi Worley-Moore
Sr. Student Services Specialist
Phoenix College

Advisory Council

Jon Bohnert
Managing Partner
Grindstone Associates

Latasha Causey
President
Phoenix Raceway

Pam Giannonatti
Corporate Affairs Manager
Fry's Food Stores

Paul Horton
Chief Meteorologist
KPHO CBS 5

Caleb Jay
Vice President & General Counsel
Arizona Diamondbacks

April Lane
Founder
Phoenix Home Rentals, LLC

David Lujan
President & CEO
Children's Action Alliance

Barbara Ralston
Leadership Consultant
BJRalston Consulting

Lisa Schmidtke
Professor of Practice, Director of PR Labs
Arizona State University

Dr. Christine Wilkinson
Senior Vice President
& Secretary of the University
President & CEO of the ASU Alumni Association
Managing Director, Trustees of ASU
Arizona State University