Meet the Team


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 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.


Gina Trotter - Sr. Vice President of Operations
Gina has been a part of the BBBSAZ team since August 1996 and has served in a variety of roles including working directly with matches, recruiting volunteers, and developing special programs. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelors in Psychology and earned her Masters of Public Administration from the University of Phoenix. Gina is a member of Class II of the ASU Lodestar Center Generation Next Leadership Academy and earned her Program Manager Certification through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America in 2012.
A Big Sister herself, Gina understands the power of mentoring and how it touches lives. She has been matched with 4 Little Sisters over the course of 20 years, with her longest and most recent match lasting 9 years. She is proud to be a part of the BBBSAZ mission and believes that helping children realize their potential is essential for a community to thrive.


Jessica Whitney - Vice President of Development & Marketing
Jessica Whitney has been with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona since 2008. Her initial role included organizing and executing all fundraising events from Paul's Car Wash to annual Gala. After serving as a Big Sister to two different Little Sisters, Jessica's passion for the mission of BBBS continued to grow. Jessica now directs and oversees all fundraising and marketing activities.
Before becoming a team member at BBBSAZ, Jessica worked as a corporate Event Planner. She managed travel arrangements, accommodations and events for clients bringing anywhere from 5 to 1,500 guests into the Phoenix area. She thoroughly enjoys detail work and is never afraid to get her hands dirty. Jessica holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the Hugh Downs School of Communication at Arizona State University. Jessica was named one of Phoenix Business Journal's Top 40 Under 40 in 2017. She has served as the Diversity Chair for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and will serve in 2020 as the incoming Chair.


Jared Byrd - Director of Community Outreach
Jared came to Big Brothers Big Sisters with nearly a decade of experience in non-profit development. As an emerging leader in the sector, he strongly believes every person has the power to create a transformative impact in our world. Jared has dedicated his career to raising support for organizations in the youth development and education spaces, holding staff and leadership positions with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley and other non-profit organizations.
As the Director of Community Outreach, he is excited to work with our community of supporters to expand their volunteer base to ensure all youth in the program achieve their full potential. Jared aims to work collaboratively with leadership and benefactors to scale the organization’s reach and change-making ability.
In his free time, Jared enjoys spending time with his family and dog Fergus. He loves trying new restaurants, traveling, and is an avid Green Bay Packers fan. Go Pack, Go!


Kerri Kaczmarczyk - Director of Community Based Engagement
Kerri Kaczmarczyk returned to BBBSAZ in 2017 to connect parents, Bigs and Littles with community resources and educational opportunities to help create strong match relationships. Kerri’s first role with the agency was from 2008-2012, during which she recruited youth and mentors for BBBSAZ programs and created business and community relationships. Prior to her current position, Kerri managed corporate partnerships for St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance and worked at APS to support the company’s corporate giving and employee volunteer programs.
Kerri completed the Contributions Academy Forum through the Association of Corporate Contributions Professions and the Generation Next Nonprofit Leadership Academy through the ASU Lodestar Center. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism at Arizona State University (go Sun Devils!) Kerri volunteers with numerous community organizations and has served as a Big Sister to two Littles through the site-based and community-based programs.


Andrea Petrof - Director of Community Based Mentoring
Andrea Petrof has been a part of the BBBSAZ team since August 2001 and has enjoyed working in all areas of the agency from Events, Marketing, Community Relations, Quality Assurance and Program. She is also considered the "IT guru" when it comes to BBBSAZ database management. As Director of Community Based Mentoring, Andrea oversees the Community program, as well as the Big Futures matches.
Andrea is a proud Arizona State University Sundevil and graduated in 1997 with a Bachelors in Communication and a minor in Business. Andrea is an alumni Big Sister to Kaycee. The pair were matched 12 years and consider each other family now. Andrea continues to see the impact that mentoring has on a day to day basis.


Debbie Smith - Director of Special Programs
Debbie Smith has been a part of the BBBSAZ team since September 2007 and has served in a variety of roles including working directly with matches, recruiting volunteers, and facilitated various training's for volunteers, parents/guardians and staff. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors in Family Studies and Nonprofit Leadership and Management. Debbie also completed the Generation Next Nonprofit Leadership Academy through ASU Lodestar Center. Debbie is a Big Sister through the site based program and strongly believes in the power of mentoring.


Susan Wiltfong - Director of Grants Administration
Susan brings more than 25 years of experience in helping Arizona youth to her current position as Director of Grants Administration. Before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, she worked at the Phoenix Crisis Nursery, Boswell Hospital Child Development Center and the Nebraska Child Crisis Center. Susan has a Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and the Family from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln (Go Big Red). Having been a Big Sister in college Susan learned early on in her career the positive impact having a mentor can make in a young person's life.
Through her tenure with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, she has held many different positions within the organization including case management, staff supervision and grant coordination. Susan feels privileged to work with the dedicated staff and volunteers at the agency. Susan is married to her husband Tom and has two children, Allison and Phillip.
Administration
Elsa Rodriguez
Community Relations Coordinator
erodriguez@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4119
Shirley Shauver
Administrative Assistant/Receptionist
sshauver@bbbsaz.org
Shelly Zanardo
Executive Assistant to CEO, Office Manager, Admin Team Lead, Board Liaison
szanardo@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4123
Yolanda Acero
Receptionist
yacero@bbbsaz.org
Development & Marketing
Aimee Johnson
Events Manager
ajohnson@bbbsaz.org
Alma Albarran
Marketing Coordinator and
Graphic Designer
aalbarran@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4108
Holly Erickson
Development/Marketing Assistant
herickson@bbbsaz.org
Jared Byrd
Director of Community Outreach
jbyrd@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4132
Jessica Whitney
VP of Development and Marketing
jwhitney@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4115
Marcus McKinnor
Community Outreach Specialist
mmckinnor@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4138
Noelle Bish
Community Outreach Specialist
nbish@bbbsaz.org
Susan Wiltfong
Director of Grants Administration
swiltfong@bbbsaz.org
Thomas Shull
Development Manager
tshull@bbbsaz.org
602-393-4133
Program
Alison Ulrich
MSW Intern
Ana Ridenour
Enrollment & Matching Specialist
aridenour@bbbsaz.org
Andrea Petrof
Director of Community Based Mentoring
apetrof@bbbsaz.org
602-769-7534
Anne Campaigne
Community Relations Coordinator
acampaigne@bbbsaz.org
602-799-0634
Bobbi Nez
Program Specialist/Tribal Partnership Coordinator
bnez@bbbsaz.org
602-769-7463
Cameron Herriges
MSW Intern
Carrie Emmons
Big Futures Program Specialist
cemmons@bbbsaz.org
Cathy Gutierrez
Big Futures Support
Danielle Young
CB Match Support Specialist
dyoung@bbbsaz.org
602-799-0416
Debbie Smith
Director of Special Programs
dsmith@bbbsaz.org
Ed Stokes
Senior Program Specialist
estokes@bbbsaz.org
Erika Tapia
MSW Intern
Evangelina Siler
Special Programs Manager
esiler@bbbsaz.org
Genesis Orozco
CB Match Support Specialist
gorozco@bbbsaz.org
Gina Trotter
Sr VP of Operations
gtrotter@bbbsaz.org
Grace Luginbuhl
Site Based Program Specialist
gluginbuhl@bbbsaz.org
Jennifer Booth
Senior Program Specialist
jbooth@bbbsaz.org
602-799-2660
Jessica Macias
Bilingual CB Match Support Specialist
jmacias@bbbsaz.org
Jocelyn Bogar
Site Based Program Specialist
jbogar@bbbsaz.org
Jolie Armstrong
Bilingual Program Manager (Big Futures)
jarmstrong@bbbsaz.org
Juliana Rengifo
Sr. Enrollment & Matching Specialist
jrengifo@bbbsaz.org
Kaycee Torres
Program Specialist - Big Futures
ktorres@bbbsaz.org
Kaylin Wojciechowski
AmeriCorps Intern
Kerri Kaczmarczyk
Director of Community Based Engagement
kkaczmarczyk@bbbsaz.org
(602) 393-2903
Martha Guzman
Parent Engagement Manager
mguzman@bbbsaz.org
Morgan Titus
CB Program Manager
mtitus@bbbsaz.org
Rosie Ronnow
Site BasedProgram Specialist
rronnow@bbbsaz.org
Samantha Ratliff
CB Match Support Specialist
sratliff@bbbsaz.org
Ta'Nia Pierre
CB Match Support Specialist
tpierre@bbbsaz.org
Tyshaya Lowe
CB Match Support Specialist
tlowe@bbbsaz.org
Gina Trotter
Sr VP of Operations
gtrotter@bbbsaz.org
Clothing Donation Center - 602-230-8900
David Reynolds
Donation Center Director
dreynolds@bbbsaz.org
Nicholas Sullivan
Customer Service/Dispatch
nsullivan@bbbsaz.org