Meet our
Featured Topics & Panels:
The Skills Gap Explained
Explore the national and state outlook on workforce readiness, the evolving skills gap, and the policy landscape affecting education and employment.
Joe O’Reilly, Ph.D. is the founding Director of the ASU-Helios Decision Center for
Educational Excellence. He makes data understandable and useful to
decisionmakers in order to improve student and community outcomes. Previously
he worked at Mesa Public Schools where he served on the leadership team and
oversaw accountability, assessment, grants, and data use efforts in the district.
Joe has served on the Mesa Public School Governing Board, the Mesa’s Mayors
Education and Workforce Roundtable and advised state entities on education
issues. He was Chair of the Gilbert Planning and Zoning Commission for 7 years
and was very involved in municipal planning efforts.
From Preschool to Paychecks
Understand how investments in early learning translate into long-term economic and workforce outcomes, and why it matters now more than ever.
Sarah Richardson was born and raised in Arizona and is a proud product of our
public schools. She attended Arizona State University, receiving a BS in Business
Administration and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction. Before entering the
education field, Sarah used her business degree in human resources management
and finance, but always knew her heart was in education. She taught math in
grades 7-12 for 2 years, and has been an adjunct university professor for 16 years.
Sarah has worked in education advocacy at the state and local level and has
extensive public speaking experience at international, national, state, and local
levels. Sarah was proud to be one of the founding members of the Educator
Recruitment and Retention team at the Arizona Department of Education. At ADE,
she served educators through numerous national and statewide projects and
conferences, policy and systems-level initiatives, professional learning
opportunities, improvements to data analysis and dissemination, and educator
recognition programs. She currently teaches upper division business courses for
Northern Arizona University as well as joining First Things First Arizona as the
Director of Strategic Initiatives where she focuses on the impacts of early
childhood on the workforce and economic development. Sarah enjoys traveling
and keeping busy with her husband and 3 children and spending time with
friends.
Building Talent Together
Hear how education leaders and industry partners are working together to deliver hands-on, skills-based learning through internships, certifications, and higher education partnerships.
With more than 17 years of experience in higher education, Haley Fagerlie is known as a
connector with an entrepreneurial mindset cultivating mutually beneficial programs and
partnerships. In her time at GCU, she has served in various roles such as a faculty member,
mentor and student advisor, founder of the GCU AZ HOSA chapter, K12 STEM director, director
of dual enrollment compliance, associate director for the Center of Integrated Science,
Engineering and Technology, and subsequently played a role in the formation of the College of
Science, Engineering and Technology, which later grew into two colleges: the College of
Engineering and Technology and the College of Natural Sciences.
Fagerile has helped to build the various advisory boards focused on engaging industry in the
development and alignment of talent pipelines. Focused on relationships and workforce
development, Fagerile is responsible for creating the university’s Employer Network for
relationship engagement, connecting job opportunities to students
Dr. CJ Wurster proudly serves as the fifth President of Chandler-Gilbert Community College. A first-generation college student, he earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Master's in Administration/Project Management through Northern Arizona University. His Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice was earned through Rochester Institute of Technology, where he was also captain of the men’s basketball team. Dr. Wurster has served in various leadership roles within the Maricopa County Community College District since 2010, including Vice President of Academic Affairs at Phoenix College and Dean of Trade & Technical Training at GateWay Community College. Demonstrating a belief in lifelong learning, he has completed programs such as The League for Innovation in the Community College Executive Leadership Institute, and the American Association of Community Colleges John E. Roueche Future Leaders Institute. He also maintains a connection to the classroom by teaching as an adjunct faculty within Maricopa and for Arizona State University.
Vanessa Fonseca-Chávez is an Associate Professor of English and Assistant Vice Provost of the ASU Polytechnic campus. In her role as Assistant Vice Provost, she works on the strategic
implementation of ASU's goals at the Poly campus by providing campus-level engagement to advance Poly priorities. She supports enrollment growth, community building, and student success, as well as communicating Poly's contributions to the ASU Charter and fostering relationships with external stakeholders. Prior to this role, Fonseca-Chávez served as the Associate Dean of Inclusion and Student Success for the College of Integrative Sciences and Arts from 2021-2025.
Dr. Michael De La Torre is the Assistant Superintendent of School Operations in the Chandler Unified School District located in Chandler Arizona. In this role, Dr. De La Torre collaborates closely with educators and administrators to enhance educational experiences for students across all grade levels. With a strong focus on innovation and excellence, he works tirelessly to implement effective educational strategies and foster a supportive learning environment.
Having previously served as a high school principal, assistant principal, and teacher. Dr. De La Torre is an educational leader with a strong background in administration and teaching. He holds an Ed.D. from Grand Canyon University, a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a B.S. in Secondary Education from Western New Mexico University.
The Internship Blueprint
Learn how local companies are using internship programs to develop real-world skills and build stronger talent pipelines from within.
Sabrina Piña is a senior engineering manager in the Guidance, Navigation and Control
department at Northrop Grumman (NG). Sabrina joined the Launch Vehicles business unit of
the NG Space Systems sector in 2023 with over 20 years of experience within the military,
aerospace, and semiconductor industries. Prior to Northrop Grumman, Sabrina worked at
Mercury Systems and Boeing as an embedded software engineer and engineering leader.
Sabrina currently leads a team of aerospace engineers focused on Modeling, Simulation, and
Analysis across a range of target and small-to-large class launch vehicle systems.
Sabrina earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Systems Engineering from Arizona
State University. Sabrina continued her studies at Arizona State University in the Master of
Science Computer Science degree program and also attended the Mini-MBA for Engineers
program at Rutgers University.
Finders Keepers: Build a Workforce that Lasts
Discover best practices from HR and business leaders on how to attract, engage, and retain high-performing teams in today’s changing workplace.
Brad Wright is a visionary leader and seasoned executive in the construction industry, known for driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and delivering excellence. As President of Kovach Enclosure Systems, Brad is dedicated to cultivating a healthy and profitable company where team members thrive. Under his leadership, KES has achieved new heights by embodying its core values: Positivity, Own It, Expertise, and Grit. Born and raised in Arvada, Colorado, Brad earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication and History from the University of Northern Colorado, where he also met his wife, Jianna. Together, they are proud parents to three sons—Jace, Beckham, and Easton. Since moving to Arizona in 2017, Brad has excelled in executive leadership roles, bringing a transparent and empowering philosophy to the workplace. He believes in creating an environment where people can become the best versions of themselves, combining high performance with a strong commitment to community involvement. KES reflects this vision by actively supporting local non-profits, volunteering, and making a meaningful social impact. Brad is passionate about professional development and invests in his team’s growth through leadership training, core values retreats, and initiatives that prioritize a work-life blend. Beyond his corporate achievements, Brad hosts a podcast where he explores strategies for building future skylines and leading with purpose in the construction industry. Whether in the boardroom or the community, Brad Wright leads with passion, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to making a lasting impact on his industry and the people around him.
Fady is the Senior Director of Human Resources for the Southwest Region at McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. He brings extensive experience leading large, dynamic workforces and shaping people strategies that drive performance and collaboration. With a strong background in talent development, organizational growth, and workforce innovation, Fady’s experience spans the retail and distribution/logistics sectors, where he developed a deep understanding of high- volume operations and team dynamics. His people-first approach focuses on empowering diverse teams to achieve shared success. Fady holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Arizona State University.
Dr. Wendy Nance is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor for the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher College at Arizona State University. Dr. Nance has served in four Arizona school districts in various roles during her educational career including elementary teacher, school administrator, Director of Human Resources, Executive Director of Instruction and Professional Development, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, and most recently as Associate Superintendent of Human Resources and Community Services in Chandler Unified School District. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership in 2013 from Northern Arizona University. She has served her community through various volunteer roles and as a member of the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Her involvement at the university level includes instruction in undergraduate, master, and doctoral courses, participation on doctoral dissertation committees, and partnering on PK-12/university grants. Dr. Nance is married to a fellow school administrator and has three children and four grandchildren.
Smart Tech, Smarter Teams
Gain practical knowledge on integrating AI into your organization while maintaining a strong, people-centered culture. Understand what to expect as we head into 2026 and beyond.
Sheila Stafford is CEO and Founder of TeamSense, a mobile frontline worker productivity and communications platform for hourly factory and warehouse workers in manufacturing and logistics. Sheila grew up in Buffalo, New York, and credits her determination, entrepreneurial spirit, and work ethic to her father, a factory worker by day and master electrician serving residential and commercial needs by night. Her wide-ranging professional experiences taught her sales, marketing, product development, supply chain management, and manufacturing operations in the U.S. and Europe. After earning her Mechanical Engineering degree from Duke University, Sheila’s first role was serving as a manufacturing engineer for General Motors (GM), working to prepare factories to produce the next season’s new models. Sheila’s time at GM gave her on-the-floor insight into factory operations and first-hand experience leading through the complexities of communication and people management with a ‘deskless’ workforce. Sheila left GM to pursue an MBA from the University of Notre Dame. Afterward, she joined Whirlpool Corporation, where she led product development for the multi-billion dollar North American Refrigeration business. At Whirlpool, she spent most of her time working in product development, bringing product and process innovation to life on the factory floor. Sheila’s deep understanding of the factory floor, her ability to deliver solutions that solve customer pain points, and her desire to lead a company led her to leap into the start-up world. She co-founded TeamSense in 2020 and set the team on its mission to connect, enable, and engage hourly workers with a mobile platform for call-off, attendance tracking, and two-way communication.
Andrea is a Vice Chair of Fennemore Craig’s business litigation group and an experienced litigation and business attorney. Andrea works with clients in a variety of industries, including healthcare, health and general insurance, financial services, credit card processing, and ACH transactions, franchise litigation, construction and engineering, real estate, governmental agencies, and intellectual property. Andrea has an unparalleled track record of success, advising a diverse group of clients, including small and mid-sized businesses and entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies, in legal matters within Arizona and throughout the country. Andrea has been recognized as a Southwest Super Lawyer, Top 25 Arizona Women Lawyer, and Top 100 Lawyer by AZ Business Magazine. Although she did not come from a family of attorneys, Andrea knew early on her calling was to be an attorney. She has always loved analyzing problems, and persuading others as to her opinion. A born fighter and a student of the art and science of disagreements, opposing counsel knows that Andrea is not afraid to go to trial to defend her clients. But, by understanding her clients’ businesses inside and out – and applying creative approaches to dispute resolution – she often can resolve cases, avoiding costly and lengthy skirmishes in the courthouse.
Andrea is also deeply committed to her community. She chairs the Arizona Humane Society’s Board of Directors, is Vice-President of the KNOW Cares Foundation that serves women and youth, and can be seen with her family, husband Jon, and two boys, volunteering around Chandler to make a difference.
Anupama Nataraj is a Senior Manager of AI & Data at Deloitte Consulting, where she leads large-scale data transformation and modernization initiatives for clients in the life sciences and healthcare industries. With nearly twenty years of experience in data and analytics, Anupama has built a career at the intersection of technology strategy and business innovation. She specializes in developing long-term data roadmaps, architecting modern cloud solutions, and helping organizations unlock the full potential of their data through AI and advanced analytics. Throughout her career, Anupama has successfully led global teams across the U.S., India, and Mexico—driving measurable outcomes through collaboration, agile delivery, and a deep focus on client success. Her work has supported major public health and financial systems, improving data quality, access, and decision-making at scale. A strong advocate for inclusion, well-being, and diversity in technology, Anupama is passionate about creating work environments where teams can thrive while embracing continuous innovation.
Colleen Flannery is a seasoned technology and innovation leader with more than 28 years in K–12 education, including 5 years as Chief Technology Officer for Chandler Unified School District. Now serving as Field CTO for Trafera, Colleen helps school districts and government agencies across the West navigate digital transformation, cybersecurity, and AI adoption. Known for her collaborative and forward-thinking approach, she brings a unique blend of technical expertise and leadership insight to every discussion.