2006-2007 CLAS Alumni Leadership Council
Executive Committee
President
Josh Aylesworth
B.A. Economics '98
Associate Vice President - Investment Officer
Wachovia Securities
E-mail:
joshua.aylesworth@wachoviasec.com
Past President
Jennifer Schoennagel
B.A Psychology '95
Founder, Business Partners 360
E-mail: jennifer@businesspartners360.com
Secretary
Ed Trujillo
B.S. Chemistry '67
Email: azjet3@cox.net
Treasurer
Richard Rogers
B.S. Political Science '70
Investment Executive, Williams Financial Group
E-mail: sundevilfan2000@yahoo.com
Dean's Advancement Council
Liaison
Vacant
College of Advancement Liaison
Regional Programs Liasion
Vacant
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Directors-at-Large
B.A. Communication '89
Founder, Business Partners 360
Email: theresa@businesspartners360.com
Allison GeeB.A. Humanities '93, M.A. Art History '01
President/Owner, Art Appraisals by Allison
Email: allison@artappraisalsbyallison.com
B.A. Political Science '87
Account Manager/Clear Channel Radio-99.9 KEZ
Email: jillgossett@clearchannel.com
James Kerr
B.A. Russian '94
Senior Relationship
Manager, Wells Fargo Bank
Email: jamesrkerr@gmail.com
Katrina
Lessard
B.S. Economics '00
Vice President & Financial Consultant, Charles Schwab Bank
E-mail:
katrina.lessard@schwab.com
Caleb LihnB.A. Psychology '99
Attorney, Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, P.L.C.
Email: clihn@jshfirm.com
Jane McClellanB.A. English '84, JD '94
Attorney, Federal Public Defender's Office
Email: jane_mcclellan@fd.org
B.A. English '92
President, Tieken:Moret Design and Marketing
MMI Associates, Inc.
Email: rhonda@tiekendesign.com
Randy Nelson, PhD.
PhD. Chemistry '90
President and CEO, Intrinsic Bioprobes
E-mail: rnelson@intrinsicbio.com
Shannon Overcash
B.A. Political Science '96
Attorney, Osborn Maledon, PC
Email: sovercash@omlaw.com
Carla SnyderB.S. Political Science '74
Vice President Business Development, Lee Hecht Harrison
Email: powern1@cox.net
Russ SpencerB.A. Communication '99
Adult Probation Services, Arizona Supreme Court
Email: RSpencer@courts.az.gov
Chip Sroufe
B.A. History '97
Relationship Manager, CORE Group USA
E-mail: csroufe@coregroupusa.com
About the Board Members
Josh Aylesworth graduated with a B.A. in Economics from Arizona State University in 1998. Prior to working at Wachovia Securities, Josh worked as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Jennifer Schoennagel has a BA in Psychology from Arizona State University and an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix. Jennifer has a broad background in both corporate and start-up environments. Previous to founding Business Partners 360, she opened the Phoenix Branch of Systems Evolution, Inc., an information technology consulting firm specializing in business intelligence, data warehousing, project management and organizational change management services. Prior to Systems Evolution, Inc., she worked for several subsidiaries of Insight Enterprises in Tempe, AZ, a technology solutions provider. She held a variety of positions for Insight and Direct Alliance Corporation (both subsidiaries of Insight Enterprises) including Accounting Manager, Sales Manager, International Operations Manager, Director of Financial Operations, Director of Operations, Vice President of Information Technology and Vice President of Marketing. Previous to Insight, she worked for JP Morgan Chase. She has experience in acquisitions, software development, project management, change management, sales management and marketing strategies. Her vision for Business Partners 360 is to offer practical and rewarding solutions for small to medium sized companies in the Phoenix area. She is married and has two children.
Richard Rogers is a May 1970 graduate of the ASU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. After graduating from ASU Richard worked with the H.J. Heinz Co. as a sales representative. He then worked for The West Bend Co. in various sales positions for them. He is currently an Investment Executive with The Williams Financial Group in Scottsdale, AZ.
Theresa Conte received her BA in Organizational Development from Arizona State University in 1989.
She has over 10 years experience in the corporate world working in Human Resources, Marketing and Sales. Most recently, she was the Vice-President of Human Resources for a digital marketing company in Orange County, California. For over five years, she owned and operated her own Human Resources Consulting firm where she specialized in Executive Recruiting. Her searches ranged from mid-level management positions to C-level for the Fortune 500 companies.
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Allison Gee graduated with a B.A. in Humanities from ASU and an M.A. in Art History from ASU. She is the president/owner of a nationwide fine art appraisal business, and also is an Adjunct Faculty member at Rio Salado College teaching Art History and Humanities. She is the President of the Phoenix chapter of the American Society of Appraisers for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 years.
Jill Gossett graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, and minor in Broadcast Journalism from Arizona State University in 1987. Jill is an Account Manager with 99.9, KEZ, owned by Clear Channel Radio Phoenix, creating, developing, and selling Advertising Integrated Marketing Campaigns, Events, Promotions and Internet Marketing Programs. Jill began her career in Broadcasting while attending A.S.U. working at KAET-TV in Operations, and KTAR-AM in News, and her Broadcast Sales/Marketing and Management career have taken her across the country. Shortly after graduating from ASU, she moved to Michigan for a job in Broadcast Sales, eventually becoming General Sales Manager for WGRD AM/FM, and then General Manager for WSNX-FM/WMRR-FM/WSFN-AM. Then, it was on to Washington, D.C and Chicago with CBS Radio, after which Jill became Director of Sales for Westwood One, Shadow Broadcast Services in Chicago. In 2003, with her husband Kevin (also an ASU graduate, B.S. Economics, 1981) and their 4 year old son, Jamie, Jill moved back to Phoenix, later connecting with CLAS to assist with the development of the annual CLAS Wine Festival through KEZ's Grapevine Promotion she created. Jill is happy to be once again connected with Arizona State University, and looks forward to working with all on the board.
James Kerr graduated from ASU in 1994 with a degree in Russian. He went on to receive an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management. He currently works at Wells Fargo Bank where he manages a portfolio of premier clients centered on: Law Firms, Medical Groups, Hospitals and other Health Care related firms.
Katrina C. Lessard graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2000 with a B.S. in Economics. She also obtained a minor in French and was able to attend a semester abroad in Paris, France. Katrina started her career as an investment advisor two days after graduating from ASU. She currently works at the Scottsdale Branch of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
(back to top)Caleb Lihn is a 1999 graduate of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. In 2002, Caleb earned a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. He is an attorney at Jones, Skelton & Hochuli, PLC, one of the largest litigation firms in Arizona. He concentrates his practice on civil litigation, transportation industry defense, and insurance coverage and fraud.
(back to top)Jane McClellan has a B.A. in English, 1984 and a J.D., ASU College of Law, 1994. She is the Assistant Federal Public Defender in Phoenix, Arizona, since 1998. She has also served as the Federal Defender Representative at the U.S. Sentencing Commission in 2004.
Rhonda Moret, Owner and President of Tieken: Moret Design & Marketing and MMI Associates, brings a wealth of knowledge to the accounts in which she manages. She has more than 15 years of experience in the strategic development of brands and marketing tactics. Rhonda holds a Masters of Business Administration; University of Phoenix (1998) and Bachelor of Arts, English; Arizona State University (1992).
Shannon L. Overcash graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University in 1996 with a B.A. degree in Political Science and went on to receive her law degree. She recently moved back to the Valley and now works for Osborn Maledon as an Associate.
Carla J. Snyder is Vice President of Business Development in the Phoenix office of Lee Hecht Harrison. Joining the firm in January 2002, her responsibilities include sales and marketing of the complete range of LHH products and services, which span outplacement, executive coaching, retention and leadership development strategies. Prior to joining the team at LHH, Snyder was an account executive with Achieve Global, an international training organization. Snyder holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science, achieving the Dean’s List while studying at both San Diego State University and Arizona State University. In addition, throughout her long professional career, she has dedicated her time to several volunteer organizations, and is currently Chair for the North Valley Human Resource Association.
Russ Spencer graduated with a B.A. in Communication from ASU in 1999. Since then he has worked for Governor Jane Dee Hull’s Community Policy Office as a Project Administrator overseeing state funded projects that dealt with Arizona’s juvenile justice court ordered programs involving prevention and treatment issues. In 2003, he moved to the Administrative Office of the Courts under the State Supreme Court. In his current position with the Adult Probation Services Division, his office is the oversight agency for all Adult Probation Departments in the state of Arizona. His responsibilities include program development and administration as well as operational review audits for all the adult probation departments. Other community involvement activities include sitting on the board and volunteering for Suns Nite Hoops, one of the Suns Charity programs. A native of Arizona, Russ lives in the Ahwatukee area of Phoenix.
Chip Sroufe graduated from ASU with a B.A. in History, Sum Cum Laude, in 1997. He has worked in the financial services industry for the past seven years; first as an Associate Vice-President at Morgan Stanley from 1997-2001, a Vice-President, Regional Sales Manager, for Allstate Financial 2001-2002, Regional Director, Branch Development for Linsco Private Ledger 2002-2003. Currently he is a Senior Relationship Manager with C.O.R.E. Group, a Scottsdale based firm, which consults with financial advisors, CPAs, and registered reps nationwide to assist them in developing and implementing advanced planning strategies for their affluent and business clients. He has been married to Lisa, ASU B.A. in Elementary Education, 1996, M.A. Education, NAU, 2000, since 1997. She has taught at a Tempe charter school, Center for Educational Excellence, for seven years. They enjoy cycling and traveling. They live in Chandler with their chocolate lab Molly.
Ellen Mishkind Thrasher is the Associate Administrator for the Office of Business and Community Initiatives, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). In this capacity she serves as an advocate for entrepreneurial development through a variety of national management and technical assistance programs. As the Associate Administrator, Ms. Thrasher manages SCORE [Service Corps of Retired Executives], a $5 million counseling and training program, composed of nearly 11,000 volunteers in 389 chapters nationwide. SCORE received the inaugural USA Freedom Corps Award for exemplary volunteer service. In 2004, it received the Summit Award of the American Society of Association Executives. Ms. Thrasher also directs the Office of International Visitors, a courtesy service to foreign small and mid-size enterprises, foreign delegations and visitors on American enterprise. Other outreach programs under her direction include SBA's youth entrepreneurship program with its teen business website and SBA's online management assistance library. Prior to her current position in the Office of Business and Community Initiatives, she served as Deputy Associate Administrator for the Small Business Development Center program, and was also the Deputy Associate Administrator for the SBA Office of Women's Business Ownership and helped to developed national Women's Business Centers. Ms. Thrasher is a graduate of the SBA's Senior Executive Service [SES] leadership program. Ms. Thrasher's extensive career in public service began on the personal Washington staff of U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona. Over the course of nearly 14 years, she served in a variety of positions including Special Assistant. A native of Phoenix, Arizona, she graduated from West High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University, College of Liberal Arts, Class of 1971. Ms. Thrasher resides in Washington, D.C., with her family.