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Board & Staff

Chandler Education Foundation (CEF) Board

Chandler Education Foundation Leadership

CEF staff and board members at a scholarship event

Meet the Chandler Education Foundation (CEF) Board of Directors! These distinguished leaders selflessly volunteer their time and expertise to support the students, staff, and families of the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD).

Each board member brings a wealth of experience from various fields, united by a shared commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and fostering a thriving school community. Their dedication ensures that every student in our district has the chance to achieve their highest potential. Discover more about the individuals driving our mission forward and their invaluable contributions to our community.

The Chandler Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1986. In addition to the volunteer Board, CEF is supported by four staff members.  

Executive Committee Officers

  • Intel

    Larry Rother - Board Chair
    Larry Rother - Board Chair

    Government Segment Manager, Intel

    Board Chair

    "The work of CEF impacts either directly, or indirectly, every student and teacher within the Chandler Unified School District (CUSD).  After I left the district as an employee, I still wanted to make a positive impact on the greater CUSD community, so joining the CEF board was a logical fit."   

  • Concord General Contracting

    Grenee Martacho - Past Board Chair
    Grenee Martacho - Past Board Chair

    Chief Executive Officer, Concord General Contracting

    Past Board Chair

    "Serving on the CEF Board helps me live my personal ‘why’. Being in the private sector there is always a focus on moving fast and constantly going forward, CEF allows me to slow down and celebrate the impactful work teachers do in our community and the students who are reshaping our world. I hear and see the challenges educators face and the roadblocks a lot of our students encounter, being involved in CEF allows me to be a part of making small and large differences for our schools."

  • Cross-Cultural Dynamics

    Dr. Jeff McGee - Chair Elect
    Dr. Jeff McGee - Chair Elect

    Chief Executive Officer, Cross-Cultural Dynamics

    Chair Elect

    Governance Committee, Chair

    "I’ve always liked to give back to my community and what better way than to invest in the next generation. Serving on the Chandler Education Foundation Board gives me the opportunity to fulfill my purpose."

  • FirstBank

    Matt Marshall - Treasurer
    Matt Marshall - Treasurer

    Executive Vice President, FirstBank

    Treasurer 

    Finance Committee, Chair

    "As a parent and member of the Chandler business community, few things are as important as a high-quality public-school system.  I’m proud to be part of the Chandler Education Foundation (CEF), whose efforts to impact kids, teachers, and staff within the Chandler Unified School Districts (CUSD) are unmatched.  During my time on board CEF has proven to be an amazing partner to CUSD and its efforts, paired with amazing district support have solidified CUSD as the best educational experience in the State of Arizona."

  • First State Bank

    John Anguiano - Secretary
    John Anguiano - Secretary

    Senior Loan Officer, First State Bank 

    Secretary

  • Core Construction

    Drew Keil - Member at Large
    Drew Keil - Member at Large

    K12 Business Development Manager, CORE Construction

    Executive Committee, Member at Large

    Marketing Committee, Chair

    "Chandler is a great community and the people on the Chandler Education Foundation Board are amazing people that believe in the Chandler Unified School District’s goal to empower each student to be successful."

  • Sunrise Engineering

    Vicki Potter - Member at Large
    Vicki Potter - Member at Large

    Marketing Coordinator, Sunrise Engineering

    Executive Committee, Member at Large

    Marketing Committee, member

    "The education of our children is vital to the future success of our communities. Chandler Education Foundation offers opportunities to help students succeed, and offers me a way to participate in making a difference."

Board Members

  • Lloyd Sports + Engineering

    Valerie Ahyong
    Valerie Ahyong

    Landscape Architect | Associate, Lloyd Sports + Engineering

    Marketing Committee, member

    "Our firm became involved with CEF during its Golf Tournament & Fundraiser in 2023. I volunteered during the event and met a handful of the CEF staff and board members. Through those introductions and conversations, I learned about the wonderful things that CEF does for Chandler Unified schools, teachers, and students, and thought it would be a great organization to get involved with and volunteer my time towards."

  • Sustainability Partners, INC

    Adam T. Cain
    Adam T. Cain

    Chief Operating Officer, Sustainability Partners, LLC

    Finance Committee, member

    "I decided to serve on the Chandler Education Foundation board because I love Chandler and have three children in the Chandler Unified School District."

  • Johnson Commercial Solutions

    Greg Hallas
    Greg Hallas

    Director of National Sales, Johnson Commercial Solutions

    Governance Committee, member

     

  • J2 Media, LLC

    Jason Heinkel
    Jason Heinkel

    Director of Production, J2 Media LLC

    Marketing Committee, member

  • VAST

    Andrea Laskowski
    Andrea Laskowski

    Senior Vice President of Supply Chain & Quality, VAST

    Marketing Committee, member

  • Northrop Grumman Corporation

    Taragh Mulvihill
    Taragh Mulvihill

    Taragh Mulvihill, Senior Director Global Supply Chain & Compliance
    Northrop Grumman Corporation

    "My children attended Chandler schools and have been blessed with incredible opportunities both at the best and hardest times in their lives. I have seen the power of public education and what it can deliver. I love the Chandler schools and wanted to give back in a meaningful way. Serving on the CEF Board helps me to be a part of making a difference for our students, teachers, and schools.”

  • Empowered Legacy Planning

    Kristel Patton P.C.
    Kristel Patton P.C.

    Attorney, Kristel K. Patton, P.C. d/b/a Empowered Legacy Planning

    Finance Committee, member

    "I decided to serve on the Chandler Education Foundation Board because I live in Chandler with my husband and two school-aged children. We love the Chandler schools and wanted to give back in a meaningful way."

  • Santan Junior High School

    Jayson Phillips
    Jayson Phillips

    Principal, Santan Junior High School

    Marketing Committee, member

    “The CEF's sole mission is to help the students and teachers of the Chandler Unified School District. Joining an organization dedicated to improving education in Chandler was an easy decision.”

  • McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

    Kennedy Taylor
    Kennedy Taylor

    Kennedy Taylor, Project Assistant Manager
    McCarthy Building Companies, Inc.

    "I joined the Chandler Education Foundation because I believe in the power of education to transform lives, and I want to help create opportunities that inspire and empower students to reach their fullest potential."

  • Dignity Health

    Christine Warren
    Christine Warren

    Trauma Injury Prevention and Outreach, Chandler Regional Medical Center

    Finance Committee, member

    Social Committee, Chair

  • Chasse Building Team

    Matt Wedding
    Matt Wedding

    Business Unit Leader, Chasse Building Team

    Governance Committee, member

    Golf Committee, Chair

  • Winks Washes Mobile Detailing

    Chase Winkelmann
    Chase Winkelmann

    Chase Winkelmann, CEO / CoFounder 
    Winks Washes Mobile Detailing

    "As a recent alumnus of CUSD, I have personally experienced the generosity of the Chandler Education Foundation through receiving several scholarships which have supported my studies at Arizona State University. I wanted to join the CEF Board to give back to future generations of students, support staff, and empower educators. I aim to offer a new perspective to several board initiatives and help strengthen the foundation’s impact on education throughout Chandler."

Chandler Unified School District Liaisons

  • Chandler Unified School District

    Leo Schlueter - CUSD Liaison
    Leo Schlueter - CUSD Liaison

    Chandler Unified School District, Executive Director of Elementary Education

    CUSD Liaison

  • Chandler Unified School District Governing Board

    Barb Mozdzen - CUSD Governing Board Liaison
    Barb Mozdzen - CUSD Governing Board Liaison

    Chandler Unified School District Governing Board, President

    CUSD Governing Board Liaison

Foundation Team

  • Executive Director

    Jen Hewitt
    Jen Hewitt

    Executive Director 

    "Working at Chandler Education Foundation isn't just a job for me; it's a profound commitment to nurturing our community's future through public education. Every day, I am driven by the belief that investing in education today will create a brighter tomorrow for our students and our society.”

  • Office & Programs Manager

    Raelynn Mackenzie
    Raelynn Mackenzie

    Office & Programs Manager

    "My personal commitment to volunteering and community service drives my passion for working at CEF. Being part of an organization that prioritizes giving back and fostering positive change aligns perfectly with my core values."

  • Project Manager

    Heaven Rendon
    Heaven Rendon

    Project Manager - Toyota Driving Possibilities Grant

    “CEF’s core values Access, Innovation and Excellence is dedicated to students, their families as well as district staff to ensure all are fully supported by reducing barriers. I’ve chosen to be a part of the CEF team because I believe in empowering young people to reach their full potential is key to their success as they are the leaders of today and tomorrow.”

  • Marketing & Campaigns Director

    Easter Weiss
    Easter Weiss

    Marketing & Campaigns Director

    "I am both a beneficiary and a staunch advocate of education's transformative power to unlock opportunities. It is a privilege to work in an organization dedicated to harnessing this power for the betterment of our community."

Our Impact This Year

  • Funds Raised

    $644,991

  • Grants Allocated

    $85,000

  • Scholarships Awarded

    $264,700

  • Access Support

    $99,167

  • Volunteer Hours

    31,640

© 2024 Chandler Education Foundation
Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

  1. What Information Do We Collect? When you visit our website you may provide us with two types of information: personal information you knowingly choose to disclose that is collected on an individual basis and website use information collected on an aggregate basis as you and others browse our website.
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Terms & Conditions

Terms & Conditions

Donation Refund Policy

We are grateful for your donation and support of our organization. If you have made an error in making your donation or change your mind about contributing to our organization please contact us. Refunds are returned using the original method of payment. If you made your donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card.

Automated Recurring Donation Cancellation

Ongoing support is important to enabling projects to continue their work, so we encourage donors to continue to contribute to projects over time. But if you must cancel your recurring donation, please notify us.

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