Surprise Sundancers Board of Directors
President
Jay Hicks
Vice President
Randy Jackson
Treasurer
Paul Moehring
Secretary
Jennifer Williams
President
Jay Hicks
The managing principal for Dig Studio's Phoenix office has more than 34 years of experience in planning and landscape architecture for both the private and public sectors. His experience encompasses a wide range of project types and scales, from 42-mile-long desert river master plans to downtown urban spaces, both locally and internationally, including projects throughout the Middle East, Israel, and China. Born and raised on a farm in the Ozarks, his work ethic was formed early in life; graduating from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Landscape Architecture, he migrated west, sinking deep roots into the Desert Southwest. His leadership skills were honed as the managing principal of EDAW/AECOM's Phoenix office and recognized for his community leadership, having chaired Urban Land Institute's Reality Check Program, Chair (2011) and current Board Member of Arizona Forward, current Board Member of the Phoenix Community Alliance, and his favorite service to his community as an Eagle Scout Advisor.
Vice President
Randy Jackson
Randy Jackson has lived and worked in the West Valley since 1991. He has more than 35 years of experience in technology and photography. In 1999, Jackson moved to Surprise and has worked in government, healthcare and technology as the region experienced one of the largest residential growth booms in the country. He retired from the City of Surprise in 2011 as their first Chief Information Officer (CIO) and IT Director.
Treasurer
S. Paul Moehring
Paul Moehring grew up in Minnesota but has spent half of his life in Arizona. After graduating from Moorhead State in Minnesota, work opportunities brought him to Phoenix. He spent 28 years in the insurance and financial services industry, with the last 24 being in coaching, sales management, and business development. He was most passionate about coaching, so he decided to chase his dream of becoming a Business Growth Coach to help entrepreneurs and business leaders drive the growth of revenue, bottom-line profits, and better work-life balance. In 2020, he founded Reaching New Heights Coaching and became the best-selling author of the book 'Get Squared.' As a keynote speaker, Paul is always excited to work with groups, both large and small. In addition, his desire and commitment to give back in support of communities and those in need are built into his brand, the core values of his business, and his belief that serving others is a responsibility for all of us. Paul is new to the Surprise Sundancers, and he's looking forward to the opportunity to serve and make a difference.
Treasurer
Jennifer Williams
Jennifer Williams is originally from Ohio and landed in Surprise, Arizona, in 1997. She is an active Sundancer, and this year, she is celebrating her 16th season as a ticket taker. This gives her the opportunity to volunteer and contribute to great causes for the youth of the Northwest Valley, as well as meet people from all over who make memories with friends and families while bonding over baseball. Additionally, she has spent the last 25 years in various healthcare leadership roles. Currently, she manages a team across seven states as the Director of Integrations, Mergers, & Acquisitions for Optum. She has completed the Disney Healthcare Leadership Institute and Achieving Clinical Excellence (ACE) Lean for Leaders certification, both of which have provided her the opportunity to mentor and train teams on providing excellence in patient care and customer service. One of her passions is to support the company's mission to help people live healthier lives and to help make the health system work better for everyone. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Ohio State University and is currently working on her MBA at Southern New Hampshire University.
Director
Bill Pupo
Bill Pupo has over 30 years of experience in city management, including as city manager of Spokane, Wash., Surprise and Chino Valley, AZ. He is currently Adjunct Faculty at the Rio Salado College of Public and Business Administration and is a consultant for private business, government and community events. He has an MBA from Gonzaga University and an Undergraduate degree from Washington State University.
Volunteer work:
¢ Fighter Country Partnership
¢ Blue Blazer Squadron and BBS Life Reserves
¢ Yes For Dysart Political Action Committee Chair in Support of the Dysart Override
Board member and volunteer for the following:
¢ Dysart Education Foundation
¢ Surprise Sundancers
¢ AZ Cactus League
¢ Surprise Regional Chamber of Commerce Board member
¢ Participated in the organization of the Blue Blazer Squadron founding committee
Director
Joe Holcombe
Joe has been a part of the Arizona family since 1981. His initial attraction to Arizona was education. He moved here to attend Arizona State University, and he quickly decided this was his home. Currently, Joe has been a teammate of the Chasse Building Team for almost ten years and has specialized in K–12 construction for his entire career. Joe has been working with and supporting the K–12 education community for over three decades. Joe is an active fundraiser for K–12 and is a member of multiple education foundation boards, including the Agua Fria Education Foundation, West MEC Alliance, Mesa Public Schools Foundation, and Scottsdale Unified School District Foundation. Joe has a deep appreciation and commitment to education. Joe served four years as a school board member for West MEC, a Career and Technical Education school district serving the west and north valleys. He served as an Honorary Commander and is currently serving as a Blue Blazer for Fighter Country Partnership, serving Luke Air Force Base. Joe has five children and nine grandchildren, and has been married for more than 37 years.
Director
Jim Triggs
As President and CEO of the national non-profit Money Management International (MMI), Jim Triggs leads MMI's national core operations. Since joining the organization almost 22 years ago, Jim has worked tirelessly to increase the accessibility and efficiency of MMI's core counseling programs for consumers, leveraging emerging technology and proven best practices to reach more consumers in need of help with their finances in more places than ever before.
As part of his responsibilities as President and CEO, Jim leads the executive team and multiple counseling, customer service, and employee training teams spanning local branch offices and major call centers all across the United States.
In addition to Jim’s volunteer work on the Sundancers Board, he has served on the Board of Directors for Soul Sanctuary in the Desert, a non-profit shelter focused on supporting women and children in need, and was a non-profit agency coach as part of Jerry Colangelo’s Collaboration for a New Century.
Director
Tom O'Neil
Tom combines strong credentials in the design and management of projects with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Tom’s legacy in educational facility design is a list of firsts for Arizona. Design team member for a new District when Sedona succeeded from Flagstaff Unified. Comprehensive district-wide master plan transforming the grade configurations for 32 schools with Washington Elementary.
Tom O’Neil Biography
Tom combines strong credentials in the design and management of projects with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Tom’s legacy in educational facility design is a list of firsts for Arizona. Design team member for a new District when Sedona succeeded from Flagstaff Unified. Comprehensive district wide master plan transforming the grade configurations for 32 schools with Washington Elementary.
Design team leader for the first fully funded SFB High School, Higley. Led the Design of the first high school utilizing the alternative delivery method CM@R for Boulder Creek High School. Led the design team creating the first Arizona High School recognized by Architecture magazine as a 21st century learning environment, Betty Fairfax High School. Leading the design team in developing the first near net zero school in the State of Arizona, Fireside Elementary School. And Leading the design team in creating the first CTE campus to train students in the area of energy from renewable to nuclear with a building component that is off the utility grid, West MEC’s southwest campus.
Tom’s success can be attributed to his integrated design approach teaming the Owner, Architects, Engineers and the building industry throughout the design and construction process. His attention to “the big picture,†keeping Client goals and market forces in balance, yet moving the design solution within the given parameters beyond the expectations of his clients. as evidenced by nationally recognized and award winning facility designs adhering to budgets and schedules, and an extremely high percentage of repeat valued clients.
Tom combines strong credentials in the design and management of projects with more than 30 years of leadership experience. Tom’s legacy in educational facility design is a list of firsts for Arizona. Design team member for a new District when Sedona succeeded from Flagstaff Unified. Comprehensive district wide master plan transforming the grade configurations for 32 schools with Washington Elementary.
Director
Diana Teter
Diana has been a Surprise resident for two years, is one of our newest Board Directors, and is committed to pursuing the Surprise Sundancers mission. Her passion for supporting the community, especially the youth of the community, stems from her experience as a mother and a high school student mentor. She strives to enable all young adults to pursue higher education. Over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and a degree in Healthcare Administration & Business Management have provided Diana with opportunities to take part in many communities as a founder, developer, participant, and leader.
Director
Todd Hornback
Chief Advancement Officer - DMB Community Life, Inc.
Todd Hornback is a visionary leader who specializes in growing purposeful and productive communities. Whether in local neighborhoods or executive boardrooms, Todd engages people in meaningful leadership roles that result in successful and sustainable enterprises. He is a Partner and Chief Advancement Officer for DMB Community Life, a company dedicated to creating special places where people lead richer, more fulfilling lives.
Todd Hornback Biography
Todd Hornback Biography
Todd Hornback is a visionary leader who specializes in growing purposeful and productive communities. Whether in local neighborhoods or executive board rooms, Todd engages people in meaningful leadership roles that result in successful and sustainable enterprises.He is a Partner and Chief Advancement Officer for DMB Community Life, a company dedicated to creating special places where people lead richer, more fulfilling lives. DMB Community Life is an innovative market leader providing developer services and association management with an emphasis on resident/stakeholderengagement, collaboration, local partnerships, and community governance.
Career Overview:
Chief Advancement Officer, DMB Community Life, Inc.
Helping developers animate and operate more vibrant, engaging and purposeful communities!
AdditionalExecutive Leadership Roles:
.Owner/President -Todd Hornback & Associates –Nonprofit Leadership Coaching/Consulting
.(Past) President/CEO -Parents Anonymous of Arizona, Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits, Scottsdale LINKS
.(Past) Faculty Associate-ASU Lodestar Center/NMI Instructor
Leadership Roles in Philanthropy & Social Sectors:
.Founder/Board Chair-White Tank Mountains Conservancy
.Board Chair-Sundancers of Surprise
.Past Board Chair-Experience Matters
.Past Chair-Continue the Quality PAC, Litchfield Elem. School District
.Past Board Chair-West Valley Arts Council
.Past Board Chair/Member-Surprise/Buckeye Chambers, Scottsdale Leadership, Valley Leadership
.Leadership CouncilMember-ASU Lodestar Centerfor Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation
.Past Board Member-Institute of Cultural Affairs USA
.Member-Blue Blazer Squadron, Luke AFB/Fighter Country Partnership
.Five-time Delegate-Arizona Town Hall
Awards & Recognition:
.Frank Hodges Alumni Achievement Award, Scottsdale Leadership
.Tin Man Award, Litchfield Park Rotary
.West Valley 24 Mover & Shaker, West Valley Magazine
.Forty Under 40, Phoenix Business Journal
.Distinguished Graduate Award, National University
.Co-Author, Background Report on Civic Engagement, AZ Town Hall
Education:
.Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration, National University
.Bachelor’s Degree in Health Education, San Diego State University
.Executive Leadership Certificate in Finance, Stanford University
.Executive Leadership Certificate in Design, Harvard University
Director
Tucker Smith
Tucker Smith is a Wealth Strategist at Charles Schwab. Smith has been a long-time Surprise Sundancers Board member. He is a former Vice Mayor and City Councillor for the City of Surprise and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ottawa University.
Director
Mike Hawkins
Michael Hawkins is a long-time resident of the City of Surprise, having moved to the city in 2004. Originally from Kentucky, Michael has been an Arizona resident since 1989. During that time, Michael has been a staunch supporter and advocate of education, having served as a teacher and administrator for 33 years. Michael is the former principal of Shadow Ridge High School, where he served as the planning principle and principal for 12 years, helping to prepare students to be contributing members of society. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from ASU and his Masters in Education Leadership from NAU. Semi-retired, he currently works for West-MEC as an Ass’t Campus Administrator over Adult Education at the Southwest Campus in Buckeye. Michael is a proud husband and father. He is also a veteran, having served in the U.S. Army, where he was honorably discharged after his enlistment.
Director
Herman Orcutt
Herman Orcutt is the legendary co-founder of the architectural firm Orcutt & Winslow. The firm began more than four decades ago with two Arizona State University graduates eager to take on the architectural field with new and innovative design solutions. Along with the philosophies that a building must give back more than it takes and that behind every well-designed building is an architect who took the time to thoroughly understand the client's needs, Herman Orcutt and Paul Winslow began building client-focused design teams that could offer personal service during each stage of the architectural process.
This progressive approach to service has earned them a reputation as one of Architectural Record’s Best Managed Firms, and a history of being one of the Valley’s leading architectural firms, Arizona’s American Institute of Architects Firm of the Year, and AIA Western Mountain Regional Architectural Firm of the Year.
Director
Bill Adams
Bill Adams is currently serving his third four-year term on the Governing Board of the Washington Elementary School District. He served as president in 2017 and 2018 and served three terms as vice president (2009–2010, 2014–2015). Mr. Adams is the owner of Ryan Austin and Associates, a full-service insurance agency, and has a working relationship with Valley Schools Management Group, both specializing in employee benefits.
Bill Adams
Bill Adams is currently serving his third four-year term on the Governing Board of the Washington Elementary School District. He has served as president in 2017 and 2018 and three terms as vice president (2009-2010, 2014, 2015). Mr. Adams is the owner of Ryan Austin and Associates, a full-service insurance agency and has a working relationship with Valley Schools Management Group, both specializing in employee benefits.
An active member of the WESD community, Mr. Adams' service includes Cactus Wren Elementary School PTA and Site Council and Cholla Middle School Site Council. He served for three years on the WESD Employee Benefit Trust Board, one year as chairman. Mr. Adams has been a volunteer on the Cortez High School Planning Team and Parent Action Committee. Mr. Adams served on the Arizona School Board Association Board of Directors (four years) and was a member of First Things First's Communications and Government Affairs Committee, a citizen's initiative that funds quality early childhood development and health. In addition, he is a member of Fighter Country Partnership and a Life Member of the Blue Blazer Squadron, supporting the men, women, families and mission of Luke AFB. Mr. Adams also serves as a volunteer with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).
He is the spouse of a retired educator and has two adult sons (and a wonderful daughter in law), both of whom attended WESD schools.
Director
Arlene Q. Santos
Arlene Santos has lived in the West Valley since 2005 and is one of our newest members, but she comes with more than 15 years of operational leadership in healthcare. She is a global project manager overseeing projects in the US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil. Her areas of expertise lie in change management, learning and development, startups, and Agile methodology. She is a John Maxwell-certified coach, mentor, and trainer and has served as a girl's high school coach for Christ Church of the Valley since 2019. She also served on the Board of Arizona’s First Things First in 2013 and is an alumnus of Leadership West Class XX. Best class ever!
Director
Tamara Jamison
As the Director of Public Safety and Municipal Business Strategy for CORE Construction, Tamara manages client relationships throughout the Western United States. She provides guidance and oversight on CORE’s public safety and municipal projects, and her ability to develop and maintain relationships has proven invaluable in the public and private sectors. Tamara spent her early career as an entrepreneur and small-business owner and parlayed that into a thriving consulting career. She has always been passionate about helping plan events and raise funds for local nonprofits and other organizations. Throughout her life, Tamara has been deeply connected to public safety and education, dating back to childhood, when her grandfather was a Fire Captain and continuing with her father's life work as an educator and school superintendent. Tamara strives to create an environment that will inspire and connect people to unify the community.
WHO ARE THE SUNDANCERS?
To apply for this ACF Scholarship, beginning January 1, 2024, please visit:
Applications for 2024 are now CLOSED! - Scholarship applications for 2024 are now being evaluated. Application deadline: April 1, 2024
BUY TICKETS
CONTACT US:
Phone: (623) 222-2222
Phone: (623) 222-2263
Fax: (623) 222-2001
Mon - Fri: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sat & Sun: Closed