annual Members Meeting
Friday, May 10, 2024 | 5–6:30 p.m.
Dorrance Hall | In-person only
4:30 p.m. | Check-in
5 p.m. | Business and Addresses by Board President and Garden Executive Director
5:30 p.m. | Tancer Distinguished Speaker Series Presents: Dr. Juliet C. Stromberg, Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University.
Reservations required.
The 2024 Annual Members Meeting will consist of a brief order of business and address by Board President, Harold Dorenbecher, and a History of the Garden by Ken Schutz, The Dr. William Huizingh Executive Director, followed by our Keynote Speaker: Dr. Juliet C. Stromberg.
Based on her recently published book “Bringing Home the Wild: A Riparian Garden in a Southwest City”, Dr. Stromberg shares her experience tending a four-acre riparian garden in south Phoenix to provide food, climate moderation, habitat, and ecotherapy. Enjoy this science-infused personal story of urban gardening as told from the perspective of a plant ecologist. Learn and be inspired on how to become your own ecological gardener in urban spaces.
For questions related to your membership or to register for the in-person event, please contact the Garden’s Membership Helpline at 480.941.3517 or email: membership@dbg.org.
2024 Desert Botanical Garden Member Ballot
Ballots must be delivered by Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 11:59 p.m.
For questions related to the ballot or voting, please contact Alana Turner, Executive Administrator and Board Liaison, aturner@dbg.org.
Board of Trustee Candidates, Class of 2027
Rebecca Ailes-Fine
Community Volunteer
Rebecca Ailes-Fine and her husband Peter are very active in the community. She is a member of Desert Botanical Garden and the Arizona Science Center boards and a founding member of WISP, Women Inspiring Scientific Process and Women Against Alzheimer’s. She previously served on the boards of Fresh Start, Ballet Arizona, Florence Crittenton of Arizona and Chrysalis. Rebecca has chaired many fundraising galas for the organizations she is committed and is a strong supporter of the Garden’s commitment to educate people about the beauty and sustainability of the Sonoran Desert.
Hank Arens
Owner, Hank Arens Designs
Hank Arens is an interior designer by trade and fundraising professional volunteer. Over the last 20 years, Hank has focused on designing beautiful, timeless interiors with clients. He has also had the privilege to volunteer for multiple charitable organizations in Arizona and has assisted in raising more than $20 million dollars. A member of the Garden’s Dinner on the Desert Committee, Hank has extensive gala and event fundraising experience, through chair, auction and donor engagement roles at various nonprofits.
Scott Burdick
Managing Partner, Wiseman & Gale
Scott Burdick is Wiseman & Gale’s Managing Partner. Formerly, Scott worked in Treasury and Finance at Saks Fifth Avenue’s corporate headquarters, then later, at global management consulting firm, Mercer Management Consulting – a division of Marsh & McLennan Companies, in a senior financial role for their European businesses. In 2002, Scott returned to Arizona and to his current position with Wiseman & Gale. Scott previously served as the Garden’s Treasurer, and currently chairs its Operations Support Committee, and the Garden’s Dinner on the Desert auction subcommitee. Presently, he serves as the Garden board’s Vice President, President Elect. Scott received his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Arizona, and MBA from Thunderbird.
Amanda Burke
Executive Vice President, Center for the Future of Arizona
Amanda Burke, Ed.D. is the Executive Vice President of the Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA), a nonprofit that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for Arizona. She is responsible for the organization’s strategy, operations and program leadership, including CFA’s statewide initiatives in education, workforce and civic engagement. Previously, Amanda was the Director of Education, Innovation and Policy at Arizona State University. She serves as vice president of Desert Botanical Garden’s Board of Trustees, chairs the Garden’s Education Committee and serves on its Strategic Planning Steering Committee. She is a 2022 Flinn-Brown Fellow and an alumna of Teach For America.
Barry Fingerhut
Chief Executive Officer and Owner, Certification Partners, LLC, (CP)
Barry Fingerhut is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Certification Partners, LLC (CP), and creator of CIW (Certified Internet Web Professional) and ICT (Information and Communication Technology Essentials), vendor-neutral curricula and high-stakes certifications for career paths within Internet Technologies. In 2017, he co-founded Covenant Learning Solutions, a HUBZone company, currently managing the Job-Corp facility in Jacksonville, Florida. He serves on the boards of AZ Opera and the ASU Bio-Design Institute and Desert Botanical Garden, with a commitment towards education.
Katie Hooten
Founder & SVP, Teach For America, Ignite
Katie Hooten is the Founder of the Ignite Fellowship at Teach For America (TFA). Committed to realizing educational equity, Hooten has led at TFA for 20 years. She began her career teaching kindergarten in the Osborn School District. She served as a leader of the Arizona program team and prior to her current position within TFA, was the Executive Director of Teach For America Phoenix. She led TFA’s national Teacher Support and Development team. Katie serves on the Garden’s Education Committee.
Mark Landy
Community Volunteer
Mark Landy is a retired certified public accountant and former managing principal of Miller, Allen & Co., P.C. Mark previously served on the Arizona State Board of Accountancy, and as its board president. Landy was elected Chair of the Arizona Society of Certified Accountants. He also served on the Governing Council of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mark previously served as the Garden’s Treasurer and on its Foundation Board; he currently serves on the Garden’s Finance, Audit, 401K and Personnel Committees. Mark recently served on the audit committees of the Maricopa County Community College District, American Public Garden Association and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona. Mark has been a Garden member for more than 30 years.
Shari Levitan
Attorney, Holland & Knight LLP
Shari Levitan is an estate and tax planning attorney for high-net-worth individuals focusing on wealth transfer techniques to accomplish her clients’ tax objectives efficiently. In addition, she represents tax-exempt organizations and trustees of individual and charitable trusts. She has served as an expert witness in fiduciary litigation matters involving complex transfer tax issues, and as a neutral advisor to unwind complex trusts for clients, post-divorce. She is admitted to practice law in Arizona and Massachusetts. She has served on the boards of several charitable organizations and currently serves on the Garden’s Planned Giving Committee.
Ed Marley
President & CEO, Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona
Ed Marley is President & CEO of the Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA). He became CEO in 2022. Prior to this role, he was the company’s SVP & CFO for more than a decade. Ed is currently a member of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation at Dignity Health. Ed is a supporter, member and donor of Desert Botanical Garden.
Kathy Munson
Community Volunteer
Kathy Munson is the retired founder and CEO of Media Buying Services, Inc., a 35-year Phoenix-based media planning and buying agency. Her past volunteer service includes board positions at Desert Botanical Garden, Florence Crittenton of AZ and Release the Fear; her community volunteerism has included the Arizona Science Center and the Phoenix Heart Ball. Kathy is an active Women’s Board of the Barrow Neurological Institute member, co-chairing the 2024 Barrow Grand Ball. A current member of the Garden’s Board of Trustees, Kathy has chaired and been a member of various Garden committees, including the Garden’s Marketing, Development, and Dinner on the Desert Committees.
Adriana Murrietta
Executive Director, Pharos Foundation
Adriana Murrietta is President of the Pharos Foundation where she is focused on systemic changes to increase access for all students, especially those from lower socio-economic backgrounds. Adriana is an active community member and advisor for various educational and leadership organizations. She is a former Garden trustee, serving from 2016- 2023. While a trustee, she chaired the Garden’s Education Committee and continues to serve on other Garden committees, including the Strategic Planning Steering Committee. She was key in securing the Garden’s Fernando Botero: El Maestro exhibit.
Linda Norquist
Marketing and Recruitment Manager, SEED SPOT
Linda Norquist is the Marketing and Recruitment Manager at SEED SPOT and a multicultural marketing strategy consultant. She was selected as a business mentor for the U.S Bank HSN American Dreams in 2017, a project designed to help Latino entrepreneurs launch new products. She currently serves on the board of directors for Xico Inc., a nonprofit Latin & Native American Arts nonprofit organization and Desert Botanical Garden. Linda chairs the Garden’s Marketing and Community Engagement Committee and serves as a member of its Governance Nominating Committee.
Ann Stanton
Professor Emerita, College of Law, Arizona State University
Ann Stanton is a professor emerita at Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and a Fellow of Stanford’s Distinguished Career Institute. A former vice president of the Garden’s board, Ann has served on and chaired numerous committees, including the 2020 Dinner on the Desert Gala, a unique event during challenging times. She previously served with the Literary Society of the Southwest, Childsplay and the Phoenix Chamber Music Society. She is an active member of the Columbine Garden Club and the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society. She is a graduate of the Desert Botanical Garden’s Landscape School. Ann is a longstanding member of the Desert Botanical Garden.
Andrea Whitsett
Executive Director, Morrison Institute for Public Policy, Arizona State University
Andrea Whitsett is the Executive Director of ASU’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy, a nonpartisan think-tank that conducts rigorous research on key Arizona policy issues including water, housing and education. Andrea is highly engaged in the community, serving on the Garden’s Marketing and Community Engagement Committee, the Core Team of Together for Arizona, and as past president of the Arizona Foundation for Women. She volunteers with the Phoenix Boys Choir and is a founding member of the Latinas in Philanthropy and Service Giving Circle.
AMENDED & RESTATED BYLAWS, ARTICLE V APPROVAL
At this time, the Garden’s annual ballot also includes a proposed bylaws amendment.
The Desert Botanical Garden Board of Trustees has recommended approval for the restated and amended Desert Botanical Garden Bylaws, Article V by the full membership, to be ratified at the May 10, 2024 Annual Members Meeting.
Please cast your vote at the ballot link at the top of this page.
View memo and proposed bylaws amendment here.
FISCAL YEAR 2023 | AUDITOR’S REPORT
The fiscal 2023 financial statement audit was completed by Mayer Hoffman McCann, P.C. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion on the consolidated financial statements of Desert Botanical Garden, Inc. and Affiliates as of and for the year ended Sept. 30, 2023 and reported no material weaknesses in internal control. Desert Botanical Garden’s Audit Committee accepted and approved the audit as presented by the auditors. The audit was issued on Jan. 25, 2024 and is available to view at: dbg.org/financials.
For questions, please contact:
MARGIE BURKE
Desert Botanical Garden,
Chief Financial and Operating Officer
mburke@dbg.org
DAVID MILLER
Shareholder,
Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.
DgMiller@CBIZ.com
