Positive Paths leadership consists of dedicated, forward-thinking trailblazers committed to advocating and providing services for women and their families to enhance the economic stability and security of the East Valley community. In 2014, Positive Paths became an independent non-profit organization with a vision to encourage others to invest in the futures of East Valley women in need, and to support women to be resilient and positive contributors to their communities. We believe that empowering women to be key change agents is an essential element to achieving a world that works for everyone. In fact, studies show that when women are supported and empowered, all of society benefits – families are healthier, more children complete elementary and high school and go on to trade school or college, productivity improves and incomes increase. In short, communities are strengthened. Join us as we strive to improve our community by providing the needed education, mentoring, and professional development skills for women to obtain economic security for themselves, their families, and our community!

Board of Directors

Dr. Maria Hesse, President
Retired, Faculty Higher Education
Arizona State University

Jill Jensen, Vice President
Retired, Strategy Director, Corporate Real Estate
Intel

Julie Garrison, Secretary
Director of Program Management
Chief of Staff to the CTO
Verra Mobility

Rhonda Curtis, Treasurer
Branch President
First International Bank & Trust

Ada Anaeme
Director of Operations & Strategy
Dignity Health, East Valley Service Area

Imelda Castro
Retired, Senior Director 
Supplier Labor, Factory Capital Equipment
Intel

Brenda Fuentes
Biblical Hope Counseling
Counselor

LaCinda Smoot Lewis, President
Co-Owner/Business Manager
EFY Enterprises LLC

Sherri Madison
Retired
Intel

Ana Monzon
Chief Financial Officer
House of Refuge

Jackie Orcutt
Senior Vice President
Industrial Specialist & Global Supply Chain
CBRE

Jen Shirkani
Principal
Penumbra Group

Charissa Wagner
Senior Vice President,
People Operations, Development and Acquisition
Taylor Morrison

Emeritus Board Members

Kathleen Dowler
Director of Community Health
Dignity Health

Caryn Gose
Retired
Salt River Project

Sandra Hudson
CEO Trust and Wealth Management
President, TrustBank AZ
TrustBank

Joyce McKinney
Retired
IBM

Janice Parker
Workforce Development Consultant

Employees

Kate Hastings, Executive Director

Linda Tanner, Administrative & Program Assistant

Service Area

Our service area includes the cities and towns of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Guadelupe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Queen Creek, San Tan Valley, Apache Junction, and unincorporated areas within these community boundaries.

For the purposes of our Scholarship and Mentoring program, women must be residents of one of these communities at the time of application and continuously while involved.

greater phoenix colored map