Rio Salado Foundation Leadership
Click on an image below to read more about each person’s career and work with Rio Salado Foundation.
Officers

Corey Woods was elected mayor of the City of Tempe in March 2020. In his professional career, he is Executive Director of Community Relations at ASU Preparatory Academy. Woods is responsible for assisting the managing director with operations, external partnerships and strategic initiatives. He previously served as the chief operating officer for the Greater Phoenix Urban League, director of college and career articulation for the Phoenix Union High School District and director of government relations for the American Lung Association of Arizona. Woods served as a Councilmember for the City of Tempe from July 2008 – July 2016. He was elected to the Tempe City Council in May 2008 and reelected in March 2012. Woods was instrumental in guiding city policy that led to Tempe’s perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s “Municipal Equality Index.” He championed initiatives in the areas of affordable housing and human services while working tirelessly to improve community development standards to attract business investment and protect neighborhoods. Woods graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in April 2000 with a B.A. in Political Science, and a minor in African-American Studies. After college, Woods was a teaching assistant at ASU for three years. In May 2018, Woods earned a Master of Arts in Educational Policy from ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton College of Education.

Sunbelt Holdings
John Graham joined Sunbelt Holdings in 1982 and became president in 1990. Graham’s background in asset management, development and real estate investment provides a solid foundation of knowledge and experience in the real estate field. Under Graham’s direction Sunbelt has become a dominant force, in both community affairs and real estate activities. Graham is a Brophy College Prep and a Stanford graduate. He is dedicated to his community through his volunteer board and trustee service for the following organizations. Graham’s has served on the RSF since 2012. He also serves on the ASU Foundation as chairman of the board. Banner Health Foundation Board of Directors on the Executive Committee, Brophy College Preparatory Board of Regents and Trustees, Greater Phoenix Leadership Board of Directors as chairman, Office of the Governor Conservation Acquisition Board, Paradise Valley Country Club Board of Directors, PGA Southwest Section Advisory Board, Phoenix Symphony Association Board of Directors Executive Committee, Positive Coaching Alliance Board of Directors, Teach for America Phoenix Regional Advisory Board as Chairman, The Nature Conservancy Board of Directors, Urban Land Institute Full Member, Valley of the Sun United Way Board of Directors, Valley Forward Association Member, Wells Fargo Community Advisory Board.

Best Western International
Ben Cilek is the Senior Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Apollo Education Group, Inc. which is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona and is a leading provider of higher education programs for working adults. Prior to joining Apollo, Ben worked in various industries and companies including Arthur Andersen, Deloitte, Troon Golf, EaglePicher, and US Airways. Ben graduated cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, IA with a B.A. in Accounting, is a licensed CPA in the state of Arizona, and a member the Arizona Society of CPA’s (ASCPA). Ben has been active professionally both at the ASCPA as well as in other professional organizations. He has served on various committees at the ASCPA and was a founding Advisory Committee member of the Phoenix Chapter of the SEC Professionals Group and served as Chairperson in 2013-2014. He is involved in the broader community as a member of various non-profit groups and committees. He is a member of Suns Charities 88 and has served in a variety of leadership roles including Finance Committee Chairperson, Engagement Committee Chairperson, and Secretary. He also serves as a member of the Vinnies, an advisory committee of professionals for St. Vincent de Paul and is a member of the finance committee at ICAN, an organization supporting Phoenix area youth. Ben is a recent graduate of Valley Leadership Institute’s Class 37, the Valley’s premier leadership development program, and was named to the 2016 class of the Phoenix Business Journal’s “40 under 40”.

Scutari & Company
For fifteen years, Shannon Scutari has facilitated changes in Arizona public policy and transportation worlds, creating a path in Arizona for rail, transit, sustainability, smart growth, and transit-oriented development. Currently, she is leading the Sustainable Communities Collaborative, a unique endeavor with a $20 million fund that harnesses the collective power of public, private and non-profit organizations to build equitable transit-oriented-development along the 20-mile light rail corridor connecting Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. As a lobbyist for eleven legislative sessions and a policy advisor for two Arizona Governors (Governor Napolitano and Governor Brewer) Shannon specializes in working with diverse constituencies and coalitions to get things done that surprise even the staunchest cynics.

Kim Knotter was named Executive Director in July 2013 and has worked in nonprofit management and fundraising in Phoenix for over 20 years. She has served with some of the Valley’s most notable charities including The American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Planned Parenthood of Arizona, Hospice of the Valley, Phoenix Art Museum, and Ballet Arizona. Kim is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Planned Giving Round Table of Arizona.
Members

Nikki Amberg has made Tempe her home for more than 25 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and a Master of Education from Louisiana State University. With an unwavering passion for public policy and non-profit work, Nikki’s professional endeavors and her experience spans from active involvement in political campaigns to serving on nonprofit boards and spearheading fundraising initiatives. Her involvement on the Tempe Community Council Board, she gained firsthand insight into the needs, aspirations, and concerns of the city’s diverse population. Nikki Amberg combines proven experience with a deep-rooted understanding of Tempe’s opportunity for continued growth.

Tempe Chamber of Commerce
Ms. Arredondo-Savage brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served on the Tempe City Council from 2010 until 2022 and as Vice Mayor from 2016 to 2018. Her leadership in local government, combined with her dedication to fostering economic growth and supporting local businesses, makes her uniquely qualified to guide the Chamber. Robin’s Tempe roots and her relationship with the city are invaluable. Arredondo-Savage oversees the Chamber’s initiatives to advocate for local businesses, provide resources for economic development, and facilitate connections within the community.

Cousins Properties
Jarett is the market leader for Cousins Properties in Phoenix and oversees an office portfolio of 1.6MM SF in Tempe. In this role, he has responsibility for leasing, property operations, investments and business development. He is the Chair of the Downtown Tempe Authority, Board Member of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council, and serves on the Rio Salado Enhanced Services Commission. Prior to relocating to Phoenix in 2021, Jarett played a key role in growing the Cousins’ footprint in Phoenix, Austin, and Dallas through acquisitions, dispositions, new developments, and corporate strategy. Before joining Cousins, Jarett worked for Morgan Stanley in their Real Estate Investing group where he closed on over half a billion dollars of office transactions.

Rockefeller Group
Brandon Dillingham is Managing Director, Southwest Development for Rockefeller Group. Mr. Dillingham oversees the development process for the company’s projects in Greater Phoenix. Mr. Dillingham is also focused on expanding the company’s office, residential and industrial portfolio in the region. Prior to joining Rockefeller Group, Mr. Dillingham was a Managing Director and partner for Hines, overseeing new development, acquisition, and investment opportunities in Arizona and New Mexico. Mr. Dillingham holds an MBA from Arizona State University and a BBA in Finance from James Madison University. He is past Chair of Valley Partnership and currently sits on the Board of Directors for both Valley Partnership and PHX East Valley Partnership.

Gammage & Burnham
Ms. Vaz is also a member of the Management Committee. Her practice focuses on zoning and land use, including master planned zoning approvals, specific plans, planned area developments, planned community developments, rezoning approvals, general plan amendments, variances, conditional and special use permits, zoning interpretations and violations, and zoning due diligence. Manjula assists clients with the negotiation and implementation of development agreements, GPLETs and other development-related agreements. She frequently appears before planning commissions and city councils on behalf of clients regarding zoning and development projects. In addition, she serves as outside counsel to the Maricopa County Stadium District.
Manjula teaches land use law in the Master of Real Estate Program at Arizona State University. She is an active member of the Urban Land Institute.

Salt River Project
Nina Mullins is the Senior Director of Land and Papago Park Center, Inc. at Salt River Project (SRP), the 3rd largest public power utility in the country. SRP is the largest provider of water to the Phoenix Metropolitan area and services over one million power customers in Arizona. The Land Department provides real estate services to ensure the delivery of reliable, low-cost water and power to our customer’s. Land is also responsible for protecting the rights for every water and power asset operated by SRP.
Prior to her current Land responsibilities she was the Senior Director for Water Customer Services and focused on delivering a reliable, low-cost water supply to the valley through a system comprised of 131 miles of main canals. Nina’s responsibilities included managing the Water Delivery Systems, Water Engineering, Water Sustainability and Business Development, Water Information Technology, Water Transmission and Communications, and Customer and Shareholder Services areas. She has also managed Electronic Systems and was responsible for SRP’s Communication Systems, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Systems and System Protection. Early in her career she completed a Relay Apprenticeship program at SRP.
Nina serves on the Board of Directors for the Child Crisis Arizona, the Board of Directors for Mesa Arts Center Foundation, and she is on the Advisory Committee for the University of Idaho, Utility Executive Course. She is also a graduate of Valley Leadership as well as a past president of the Gilbert Leadership Board. Nina was selected as a “Woman Worth Watching in 2010” by the Profiles in Diversity Journal. Nina earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University and her Masters of Business Administration degree from Western International University.
As a first-generation native of Arizona, Nina resides with her husband, C.O., and their two children in Chandler, Arizona.
Emeritus Board
Mark Mitchell is a third-generation Arizonan with deep roots in the Tempe community. Before being elected mayor in May 2012, Mitchell was elected to the City Council in March 2000 and served three four-year terms. Mayor Mitchell also currently serves as the vice president of the Executive Committee for the Arizona League of Cities and Towns. During his time as mayor, Mitchell has focused on strengthening Tempe’s local economy and the economic recovery by working to attract new businesses and retain current business partners. As a community member, Mayor Mitchell has served on numerous boards and charitable organizations, including the Kiwanis Club of Tempe, Tempe Diablos, Tempe Leadership Class XV, Tempe Sisters Cities, Tempe Impact Education Foundation, and the Tempe YMCA. Mitchell is currently on the board of directors of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and serves as the City of Tempe’s representative on the Maricopa Association of Government’s Regional Council, Transportation Policy and Economic Development Committees.