Meet the Maricopa Corporate College Staff
Jason Weinstein | Chief Officer, Corporate Engagement
As Executive Director, Jason leads the Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR) team to deliver high-impact training and development solutions for the business community, government, and industries to positively impact the economy. Jason joined the MCOR team in September of 2021 and brings over 10 years of experience working in business services, workforce development, and higher education, with a majority of time spent developing new industry and community partnerships, and delivering career services. Jason obtained his undergraduate degree in marketing from St. John’s University, where he also earned a dual concentration in international business and integrated marketing strategy. He also earned his Master of Science in Education in higher education administration from Baruch College. In his free time, Jason enjoys many different outdoor activities. To relax, he also enjoys cooking and can often be found in his kitchen preparing meals.
Patricia Artz | Career Navigator
As a Career Navigator, Pat supports students in successfully accessing education programs that will positively enhance their livelihood. She has over 14 years of experience working with students, providing coaching and guidance through their education path. She is committed to continuous improvement and impacting team success. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in business administration marketing and management at New Mexico State University. Pat enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.
Sophie Baca | Career Navigator
As a Career Navigator, Sophie pursues her passion for assisting students by helping them transform their lives through education and professional training. For the past 28 years, she has worked with the Maricopa County Community College District in Student Affairs. Sophie is working towards her bachelor’s degree in human behavior through the new program at South Mountain Community College, where she also received her associate degree. She is a proud wife and mother, and enjoys spending time cooking for her large family. Sophie enjoys collecting vintage jewelry, crafting, watching classic movies and documentaries about ancient history, and learning how to help people with their mental health and overcoming trauma.
Brent Boardman | Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Brent ensures the success of a range of initiatives within Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR). Brent has worked at MCOR since 2015 and has been teaching and presenting on Organizational Behavior for Managers, Leading Projects in Organizations, and Team Dynamics since 2008. Brent earned his MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business, his Global Leadership Certificate from Thunderbird School of International Management, and is a contributing Fellow for the Arizona Program for Policy, Ethics, and Education Leadership (APPEEL, Lincoln Center for Applied Ethics at ASU). In addition to teaching, he is a published author, photographer, poet, and woodworker.
Emilio Cabrera | Director of Corporate Partnerships
As Director of Corporate Partnerships, Emilio establishes relationships with corporate partners to improve their workforce and culture by delivering corporate training and professional development opportunities. Emilio has been with the Maricopa County Community College District for 15 years; his passion for higher education and workforce development make Maricopa Corporate College a natural fit. Emilio obtained his undergraduate degree in marketing at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University, and earned a Master of Education in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. In his free time, Emilio enjoys time with his family, playing softball and soccer.
Tawanna "TC" Charlton | Career Navigator
As a Career Navigator, Tawanna views her role as a guidepost for students as they begin their educational journey. After 15-plus years of working in post-secondary education, she is still passionate about the pursuit of higher education and the impact that it can have on families for generations. As a first-gen college graduate and a veteran of the United States Air Force, Tawanna is no stranger to hard work and perseverance. She started her career with the Maricopa County Community College District as a Student Services Specialist at Rio Salado College, and is excited to continue serving students in her current role with Maricopa Corporate College. Tawanna has her B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Phoenix, and is currently pursuing a master's in accounting through Liberty University. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, reading (a lot!), exercising, dancing, and watching movies.
Katy Everson | Digital Marketing Specialist
As Digital Marketing Specialist, Katy develops marketing campaigns and content for a variety of digital platforms. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and management from Saint Martin's University in Lacey, WA. Katy brings over 15 years of experience in the education field and is motivated by the mission to help people find fulfillment and belonging in their careers. Katy is a Washington State native who moved to Arizona in 2018. In her free time, she enjoys cheering for her sons at their basketball games and going on adventures.
Sue Gitell | Career Services Coordinator
As a Career Services Coordinator for the Route to Relief program, Sue helps individuals secure employment by forging partnerships with employers, finding job opportunities, collaborating on resume building, and coaching for successful interviews. A graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in communications, Sue has 18+ years of experience in Career Services and Workforce Development. She has experience assisting a diverse range of job seekers, from young individuals and underserved populations to recent college graduates and professionals facing displacement. Sue is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator and is trained in motivational interviewing and nonprofit management. Sue is passionate about helping people and truly loves her work. During her free time, Sue loves art, dancing, nature, blues music, and paddleboarding.
Emma Gomez | Senior Graphic Designer
As Senior Graphic Designer, Emma creates professional-quality marketing materials that aid in multiple campaigns to help connect the community to local businesses through higher education and training. She has been with Maricopa Corporate College for over seven years, and has assisted many divisions in the Maricopa County Community College District with her graphic design expertise. Emma obtained her Associate in Applied Science in graphic design and a certificate in web design from Mesa Community College. Emma is an Arizona native and loves to travel in her spare time, hike in cool weather, watch movies, spend time with her adult children and extended family, and work on the family home she turned into a part-time rental in the hometown where she grew up.
Amy Griglak | Marketing Project Manager
As the Marketing Project Manager, Amy brings years of digital marketing and communications experience, as well as organizational skills, to her role at Maricopa Corporate College. She values the importance of education and enjoys being a part of the educational journey. Born and raised in California, Amy moved to Arizona to earn her bachelor's degree in communication at the University of Arizona, and loved Arizona so much that she decided to stay. In her free time, Amy enjoys travel, reading, hiking, drinking good coffee, and going on adventures with her husband and two kiddos.
Jessica Hoffert | Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Jessica manages Education Concierge Services projects with Maricopa Corporate College's corporate community partners. Jessica has been working in higher education for the past 20 years, of which more than 10 have been with the Maricopa County Community College District. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Minnesota State University - Moorhead, and her MBA with an emphasis in global management from the University of Phoenix. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Alex Kouumdjieva | District Director, Marketing Operations and Digital Strategies
As the District Director of Marketing Operations and Digital Strategies, Alex uses the latest inbound marketing strategies to connect Arizona businesses with impactful corporate training. With a bachelor’s in journalism and a master’s in mass communication from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University, she brings an array of experience in marketing, public relations, CRM management, and nonprofits. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new places and spending time with her family.
Shenxin (Akiko) Li | Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Shenxin focuses on corporate project developments and is committed to higher education. Shenxin joined the Maricopa Corporate College team in October of 2022. With an international background, she has over 15 years of experience in project management, including cross-cultural consulting, community outreach, corporate strategy development, corporate governance, international governmental relations between states and provinces, and leadership through academic training programs for students and governmental officials. Shenxin completed her BBA from the Institute of Franco-American Management in France and earned her MBA from the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. She also holds a PMP certification from PMI. In her spare time, Shenxin enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, watching movies, and having yummy food.
Dana Macke-Redford | Senior Project Manager
As Senior Project Manager, Dana focuses on the successful delivery of training and education programs for Arizona’s students and corporate clients. She has spent more than a decade in training and development and has a diverse background in program and project management, organizational development, financial services, and call center operations. Dana attended University of Illinois as an undergrad, completed a post-baccalaureate in secondary education from Ottawa University, and earned a master's degree in educational leadership from Northern Arizona University. She holds her PMP certification from PMI. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, crafting, and being a volleyball mom.
Emma Martinez | Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Emma supports the success of the Key Performance Essentials programs, along with a range of other initiative projects within Maricopa Corporate College. Emma has been with the Maricopa County Community College District for eight years, mainly at Phoenix College with the College Police Department. She earned her B.S. degree in recreation and tourism management from Arizona State University, and is currently pursuing a degree in cybersecurity. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, working out, and trying new restaurants.
Karis Mora | Career Navigator
As a Career Navigator, Karis is passionate about helping students enroll for programs that will positively influence their lives. She ensures their success by continuously monitoring their progress throughout their educational journey. Karis earned her Master of Education from Grand Canyon University. She started working with Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR) in 2020 as an Enrollment Specialist and is excited to continue working with MCOR as a Student Services Analyst. In her free time, Karis enjoys spending time with family, painting, nature photography, and photo editing.
Veronica Moreno | Career Navigator
As a Student Services Analyst for the Route to Relief program, Veronica supports students with a focus in the manufacturing industry. She has been with the Maricopa County Community College District since 2015, and has worked for nine years in Career and Technical Education. She recognizes the value of education to employment, and enjoys helping students find their way to success, especially those taking non-traditional paths. Veronica brings a unique mix of background experience thanks to her work in municipal government, education, small business, and human resources. Veronica is a native of Arizona and a hometown graduate of Glendale Community College. When she is not helping students, she enjoys going to the movie theater, supporting her home's sports teams, and eating Mexican food with her family and friends.
Vanessa Plummer | Project Manager
As a Project Manager, Vanessa brings a blend of passion for assisting others and exceptional organizational skills, making her an asset to Maricopa Corporate College's (MCOR) fulfillment team. Her expertise lies in overseeing the success of diverse grants and mastering her project management skills. Vanessa, a native of Arizona, attended Glendale Community College, where her journey with the Maricopa Community College District (MCCCD) began with a student worker role, shaping the start of her career in higher education. She has been a valued member of MCOR since December 2013, building on nearly a decade of experience within MCCCD across various roles. Outside of work, Vanessa finds joy in lounging poolside, indulging in crafting projects, capturing moments through photography, and caring for her beloved menagerie of animals.
Alise Randolph | Career Services Coordinator
As a Career Services Coordinator, Alise joins the Maricopa Corporate College team as a transplant from Chicago and a Navy wife who has seven-plus years of experience in recruiting, career services, and workforce development. As a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University with a degree in family and consumer sciences, Alise has worked with job seekers from youth in group homes to corporate professionals. She has recruited in many fields including the nonprofit sector, manufacturing, and healthcare. Alise is AIRS certified in sourcing, and brings a unique career services aspect with her recruiting background and resume writing. Alise earned an associate degree in culinary arts from Johnson and Wales University, and worked as a food service director and culinary arts teacher in K-12 schools in Memphis, Tennessee. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, watching British shows, and cooking great meals for her family and friends.
Armando Sanchez | Senior Marketing Automation Specialist
As Senior Marketing Automation Specialist, Armando helps oversee the automation of multiple marketing initiatives and campaigns. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in marketing from ASU in 2020, and has been working in the industry ever since. Armando joined the Maricopa Corporate College team in 2023, and has enjoyed helping assist clients in their educational aspirations. He was born and raised in the Metro–Phoenix area. In his free time, Armando likes to build and tinker with computers, play video games, read, watch movies, perform weightlifting, and work on his vinyl collection.
Rachel Thomas | Marketing Coordinator
As Marketing Coordinator, Rachel writes and prepares creative content for a variety of digital platforms. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in professional writing, and brings a wealth of experiences from her time working with nonprofit organizations before joining the Maricopa Corporate College team. If she were to live her life by a quote, it would be “Everyone falls down. Getting back up is how you learn to walk.” - Walt Disney. In her free time, she enjoys travel, art, and getting in as much time outdoors as the weather will allow.
Mike Turner | Manager of Corporate Partnerships
As Manager of Corporate Partnerships, Mike’s a key part of the Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR) team that delivers high-impact training and development solutions for businesses, industries, and the government to positively impact the economy. Mike joined the MCOR team in January of 2023, and brings over 20 years of experience in workforce development and higher education, with a majority of time spent developing collaborative partnerships focused on the training needs of corporate and government entities. Mike obtained his undergraduate degree in organizational communications from Northern Arizona University, and he earned his Master of Business Administration from Western International University. In his free time, Mike enjoys many different outdoor recreational activities and spending time with his family.
Darion Walker | Career Navigator
As a Career Navigator, Darion supports students in their journey to receive an education. He is a transplant from Chicago and a Marine Corps veteran, with over 10 years of experience in higher education with a focus in financial aid. He began his role with the Maricopa County Community College District in 2022 as a Student Support Specialist, and maintains his passion for changing the lives of those students he assists in his current position at Maricopa Corporate College. Darion is currently enrolled at Western Governors University working towards a degree in special education, and in his free time enjoys games, being creative, and spending time outdoors.
Kendall Washington | Program Coordinator
As Program Coordinator, Kendall effectively represents the face of Maricopa Corporate College (MCOR) by providing excellent attention to detail and overseeing all the administrative functions of MCOR. Kendall has proven to be indispensable in the organizing, scheduling, and managing of leadership schedules and successful projects throughout his 13 years in the Maricopa County Community College District. Kendall cultivates a harmonious and fastidious work environment within MCOR that allows him to graciously represent the face of MCOR when meeting and corresponding with new and old clients. Regardless of the tasks, Kendall ensures that excellent results are produced. Kendall is a man who prefers actions with tangible results, rather than promises and words. Kendall enjoys his family, church, job, and music.