Central Arizona Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors with their combined diverse experiences are critical to assisting with strategic planning and fundraising to support the Chapters' humanitarian mission and services.
Jim Olson
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I am passionate about all 5 lines of service but have always had an affinity toward bio-medical. With the Red Cross providing 35+% of the nation's blood supply, it is critical to continue to focus on the mission.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? All the activity and events are great, but I really enjoy the volunteer Holiday party! It’s fun to see who participates in the ugly sweater contest.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities including golf, ice hockey, camping, biking, hunting and fishing.
A fun fact: My family is very involved in music and theater. Back in High School, my wife Lisa and I sang and danced together in a show choir.
Jeffrey Quijano
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? My family has been involved with the Red Cross since I was a child, so I was introduced, as a young person, to the power of the Red Cross to positively impact and save lives. Growing up in south Louisiana, hurricanes were a part of growing up, and the Red Cross was ever present. And after my own experience as a Hurricane Katrina evacuee, after which I needed the Red Cross’ support, I witnessed firsthand how vital the Red Cross is for victims of all varieties of natural disasters, when people are often experiencing the most vulnerable moments of their lives. But, the Red Cross’ standing as the most important humanitarian organization in the world is inspiration enough.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? I love anything that permits me to be in the community representing the Red Cross.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Watching my son’s lacrosse team, or my daughter’s dance team, spending time with my wife, Kanani, playing tennis and watching tennis, basketball or LSU football.
A fun fact: I studied Painting/Drawing in undergrad, so of course, I became a tax attorney/banker.
Natalie Bowers
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? Sharing the mission to alleviate human suffering while educating the community that the American Red Cross is more than just blood donation. I enjoy surprising an audience that the American Red Cross has 5 lines of business that keep the mission moving forward.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Community based events where we have larger audiences to help spread the word on what we’re doing to create value in our district.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Watching UFC, attending live events like concerts, comedy shows, movies, and mixed martial arts fighting. My son competes professionally in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts.
A fun fact: I can still remember the 50 States that Rhyme song. I do not sing well, but I do remember it.
Elena Canez
Travis Cook, MBA
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? What initially inspired me to serve on the Red Cross Board was that I could play a role in their mission to help alleviate human suffering. But I had no idea at the time how much good the Red Cross actually does- it's inspiring!
One of my all-time favorite Red Cross activities are the "Sound the Alarm" smoke alarm installation events. And I'm looking forward to getting more involved with responding to disasters and helping those in immediate need.
On the weekend you can find me coaching my son's sports team, at my daughters' dance recitals, or trying to finish my wife's to-do lists around the house.
A fun fact: I'm scuba certified and enjoy scuba diving, and I go ice climbing every year in Colorado.
Timothy Espinosa
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? As a Board Member I have a greater opportunity to spread the Red Cross beyond my community.
What is your favorite Red Cross function, activity or event? Managing groups when deployed to a major disaster. Working as a volunteer to spread Red Cross activities to other communities.
Where can we find you on weekends? All my days are weekends. I enjoy fishing and hiking. I also enjoy working in my yard. I have fruit trees and a small garden.
A fun fact: My wife and I lived and worked in Hong Kong for four years. We have toured 80 countries.
Marcos Garay
Ivan O. Garcia
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I love giving back in to the community. I love to represent and uplift the Latino Community.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Coordinating blood drives and personally donating.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I love to hunt and fish!
A fun fact: I love to cook tomahawk steaks in the caja china!
Bradford T. Harris (Brad)
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I am thrilled to be part of the Red Cross’ holistic approach to serve those in need wherever they may be.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? I am passionate about the efforts to collect blood – a commodity one can give that money can’t buy.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I love to scuba dive, which usually means traveling to beautiful places. I love football, both college and pro, so if I’m not at a game, I’m watching a game. I like to swim, hike and cycle.
A fun fact: I have visited 48 of the 50 states…North Dakota and Connecticut have eluded me so far.
Rob Litt
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I've been a Red Cross volunteer for nearly 25 years, first in San Diego, then Minneapolis and now Phoenix. In every city and every chapter, the passion for helping people and communities remains strong and the impact is significant.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? While I have not deployed since I have been in Phoenix, the deployments I went on in Minnesota and California are the most impactful activities I've been involved with as a Red Cross volunteer and Board Member.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Most weekends are spent at our kids sporting events, but when we have an open weekend we love to hike, go to concerts, sporting events and standup comedy shows.
A fun fact: I have traveled to all 50 states and 36 countries. And I have enjoyed competing in deadlift competitions.
Dr. Aja Murphy
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? Throughout my career, I have been committed to serving those in underserved and marginalized communities. Although there were vast cultural differences in the regions for which I have provided medical care, deficiencies in the social determinants of health and its impact appeared to be a common thread globally. Subsequently, I started a healthcare company dedicated to bridging those gaps and providing quality, culturally competent care for those who need it the most. The American Red Cross aligns with my commitment to those in despair and creates a larger platform for that calling, fueling my ongoing passion to serve.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Events where we can engage with the community & can educate them about the Red Cross, while creating an impactful Red Cross experience.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? In a theatre, museum, concert, park or traveling with my family.
A fun fact: I make random quotes from old movies….a lot.
David Nelson
David, who started with Scottsdale Insurance Company (Nationwide E&S/Specialty) in 1991, brings a deep understanding of business and products, an impressive financial acumen, and strong relationships within the Excess & Surplus lines industry as well as with distribution partners. David currently is the Executive Vice President of the E&S Wholesale division, which includes Brokerage Individual Risk and Contract Binding. As a dedicated member of the Red Cross Board, he is inspired by the organization’s commitment to humanitarian aid and disaster relief. Serving on the board allows him to contribute to meaningful causes and make a positive impact in our community. He finds it incredibly rewarding to see the community come together to donate blood and save lives. During his leisure time you can find him outdoors enjoying time in the mountains of AZ. Many people don’t know that David has a passion for classic cars, whether it’s owning, restoring, or simply admiring them.
Leighton Tyau
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I am inspired by the Red Cross's commitment to serving communities in their most vulnerable moments and the organization's wide-reaching impact in providing disaster relief and emergency support.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? My favorite Red Cross activity is participating in community outreach and education efforts, helping to raise awareness about preparedness and safety in times of crisis.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Spending time with family, walking my dog, or pickleball.
A fun fact: I'm probably still pretty darned good at Olympic style archery.
Mayra Uribe
What Inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I am a first generation U.S. Citizen raised in Yuma, AZ. I witnessed first hand the help my parents needed while raising four children, as migrant workers, and as homeowners, translation to their primary language, Spanish, education and financial needs. My rural community made me feel included and with summers in Mexico I quickly embraced two cultures where borders did not exist. My values are in line with the American Red Cross vision to foster safer families and neighborhoods.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Community Preparedness Education
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I have a 7 year old vibrant boy and a foster baby girl age 4. On the weekends, we are enjoying one of their sport event(s) or outdoors enjoying hiking, a national park, or at a local farmers market.
A fun fact: I am a Disney fanatic, I moved to Florida to live where I vacationed for a few years. Then managed to vacation where I used to live, to visit family. I do call AZ home, with all my family in Yuma County.
Sara Van Houten
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I am grateful for my many blessings and have a strong desire to give back. To me, there is no better way to give back than to support an organization that helps our communities in so many ways – disaster relief, blood services, support for our military. It is such an honor to serve on the Red Cross Board.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? I am looking forward to helping with smoke alarm installations and veterans stand down events.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I enjoy walking, hiking (anything outdoors), Iowa Hawkeye sports and spending time with my family.
A fun fact about you: I ran track and cross country in high school and college, and I am in the Iowa Girls High School Hall of Fame.