About Us
Staff
Brie Seward
Board Role: Executive Director, Marketing Committee Member
Autism connection: Mother of a boy with autism and aunt to a nephew with autism
Expertise: Corporate Marketing/E-commerce, AZ Partners in Leadership (2015), The University of Arizona Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (ArizonaLEND) graduate (2017-2018), MA Communications Program (August 2020), Autism Society of America Marketing Task Force, Sonoran Center for Excellence in Disabilities Community Council
Maxine Mathews
Board Role: Information and Referral Specialist
Experience: Finding resources across Pima County in the mental and behavioral health community. Began working in mental health in 2007. Has worked for nonprofits since 2010.
Autism connection: Mother of a teenager diagnosed with Autism at age 4 and of an 11-year-old diagnosed with Autism at age 10.
Expertise: Navigating through behavioral health systems from initial diagnosis of Autism to transitioning to adulthood. Including working with State agencies and therapeutic agencies.
JC Rivers
Role: Grant writer
Experience: Over 15 years as a nonprofit fundraiser/grant writer. Over 25 years as an executive/senior manager with municipal and voluntary hospitals, social service agencies, school systems, and academic institutions.
Autism connection: An aunt of an adult with autism. Substantial experience overseeing continuous quality improvement in health care services for individuals with disabilities living in community settings.
Expertise: Human Services, Pre K-12 and Higher Education, and Health Care
Officers
Ray Frieders
Board Role: President, Marketing Committee Chair
Professional job: Production Manager (Cox Media)
Affiliations: former board member with Tucson Alliance for Autism
Autism connection: son with autism
Expertise: marketing; management
Jared Perkins, MPA
Board Role: Immediate Past President
Professional job: CEO of TMC Children’s Clinic
Affiliations: Governor’s Commission on ASD Member, Tucson’s Commission on Disabilities Issues Commissioner, Sonoran University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Community Advisory Member, Former President of Tucson Council of Arizona Autism Coalition.
Autism connection: service provider
Expertise: System change; behavioral health systems; strategic planning; management
Terry Randolph, MA, LPC
Board Role: Co-Vice President
Professional job: Children’s Healthcare Administrator
Expertise: Management, Leadership, Behavioral Health Expertise, Strategic Planning
Kyle Lininger, MPA, BCBA
Board Role: Co-Vice President
Professional job: Divisional Director of Integrated Health for Intermountain Centers
Autism connection: Family member
Expertise: Management, Leadership, Behavioral Health Expertise
Eric Peterson
Board Role: Treasurer
Professional job: Shareholder, Former-CFO or Shareholder, Retiring-CFO
Autism connection: Father of 20-year old son with autism
Expertise: Accounting and Finance, Management, ERP Systems, Succession Planning, Construction Industry, Consulting
Josh Anbar
Board Role: Secretary
Professional job: Doctoral candidate at the University of Arizona
Autism connection: Individual diagnosed with Autism
Expertise: First-person experience with autism; public health; education
Affiliations: University of Arizona; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health: American Public Health Association
Directors
Eric Stark
Board Role: Director
Professional job: Attorney (Snell & Wilmer)
Autism connection: He is an accomplished public speaker who openly shares his own lived experience facing and overcoming challenges including a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.
Expertise: He holds a JD degree from the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State and is a graduate of ASU’s School of Social Work - Tucson Campus with a Master’s in Social Work. In addition, Eric is also certified by the State of Arizona to provide peer support as a Recovery Support Specialist with over a decade of experience working in the behavioral health field. He currently works at Banner – University Health Plans as a senior marketing coordinator for Sponsorship and Events after spending a year serving as a member advocate.
Affiliations: He also teaches self-advocacy skills and how to more effectively navigate the public healthcare system.
Lynda Weigel-Firor
Board Role: Director
Professional job: Consultant/Grant writer (Independent)
Autism connection: daughter with autism
Expertise: fund development; non-profit management
Diane Kent
Board Role: Director
Professional job: Director of EDvance, an educational support program designed to empower staff to advance the achievement of students with disabilities, Pima County School Superintendent’s Office. Autism connection: Provided speech therapy to students with autism during 39 year career in public schools. Advocated for services and supports for students with autism as Assistant Director of Special Education in the Vail School District
Expertise: Communication Disorders
Catherine Riley, MD
Board Role: Director
Professional job: Developmental Pediatrician, Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Arizona
Affiliations: AZAAP medical director: Early Brain and Child Development
Autism connection: Medical provider
Expertise: medicine, education, and program development
Sal Hernandez, CPA
Board Role: Director, Business Committee Member
Professional job: Senior Audit Manager (Keegan, Linscott, & Kenon, PC)
Affiliations: AICPA Member, ASCPA Member
Autism connection: Nephew with autism, Wife is a Behavior Interventionist working with children with autism
Expertise: Accounting; Finance; Management; Non-profits
Laura Valenzuela, M.S. CCC-SLP
Board Role: Director, Program Committee Chair
Professional job: Speech Language Pathologist
Autism connection: Works directly with individuals and families affected by Autism.
Expertise: Communication Disorders & Applied Behavior Analysis
Hattie Groskind
Board Role: Director, Chair of Self-Advocate Council
Professional job: Student, Barn Manager at JCC Ranch Camp
Autism connection: Individual diagnosed with Autism
Expertise: First-person experience with Autism, public speaking, advocacy
Dr. June Wood
Board Role: Board Member
Professional job: Consultant –Specializing in: Autism, Coaching-Asperger’s Syndrome, Tutoring –ADHD Learning Differences
Autism connection: Raised two boys diagnosed with autism
Affiliations: Educational Therapists Association, Autism Specialist
Expertise: PhD Psychology, M.A. Special Education, M.A. Marriage Family Therapy, LICSW-Emeritis (-Minnesota), NAU- Instructor in Applied Behavior Therapy-Education department, Founder of Buenaventure Academy- Special Needs Students, Teaching, Mental Health Counseling, Working with parents, teachers and children with Learning Differences
Amy Figliolino
Board Role: Board Member
Professional job: Branch Manager for Tucson Federal Credit Union
Autism connection: Son with autism
Expertise: Management and Leadership
Pete Schwarz
Board Role: Honorary Director and Chair of the Affiliate Leadership Committee for Autism Society of America
Professional job: Tucson Branch Manager/Engineer (GHD)
Affiliations: former Advisory Committee member of Arizona Autism Coalition; former VP of Tucson Council of Arizona Autism Coalition; former Board Chairman of Tucson Alliance for Autism
Autism connection: son with autism
Expertise: management; strategic planning; advocacy
Courtney Henson
Board Role: Honorary Director
Professional job: Attorney (Snell & Wilmer)
Autism connection: none
Expertise: law, fund development