Valley Metro Board of Directors

Mayor Elaine Scruggs, City of Glendale

Serving in the position of Mayor of Glendale since February 1993, Elaine Scruggs was most recently selected as Chair of the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority (RPTA) board of directors.  The RPTA board of directors helps to guide the authority by providing public transit solutions that best serve each of the member communities. Mayor Scruggs recently completed a one-year term as chair of the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association (AMWUA), a coordinated effort of 10 Valley cities to manage water resources.  She also serves on the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of Westmarc, an advocacy group of businesses and government promoting the West Valley.

As mayor of Glendale, which is home to Luke Air Force Base, Elaine Scruggs was selected to serve on the 15-member Arizona Military Affairs Commission, which evaluates and authorizes projects that sustain the missions of Arizona’s military facilities.

Helping to foster the positive development of youth also is a priority for Mayor Scruggs. She actively participates in her Mayor’s Youth Advisory Commission and serves on the YWCA Advisory Board, which honored her with its 2001 Tribute to Women Public Sector Leadership award. Through Mayor Scruggs’ efforts, Glendale was named the first Kids at Hope city in the United States.

Fostering leadership is of great personal interest to Mayor Scruggs. Her desire for a program that would reinvigorate the public’s civic participation and their sense of ownership of local government led to the creation of Glendale University in 1997. Since the program’s inception, more than 450 Glendale residents have “graduated” from Glendale University to become community leaders through service to non-profit organizations, appointment to municipal commissions and election to the City Council.

Mayor Scruggs’ business career is marked with highly specialized management assignments within the communications industry. Positions held include Corporate Training Manager for a seven-state area and Arizona Administrative Manager with responsibility for a customer account base billing in excess of $25 million annually. Mayor Scruggs has been recognized by the National Association of Women Business Owners for her support of small business endeavors. In 1998, she was honored as one of Today’s Arizona Woman magazine’s Top 100, and in 2003, she accepted their Woman of the Year award.

Past leadership positions include serving as chairman of the Maricopa Association of Governments Regional Council, chairman of the Arizona Municipal Tax Code Commission, President of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and chair of Maricopa Association of Governments’ Transportation Policy Committee

Mayor Scruggs and her husband, Larry, relocated to Arizona from Pasadena, Calif. in 1971. Their daughter, Jennifer, lives in Tennessee.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Eric Orsborn, Town of Buckeye

Eric Orsborn is a native of Arizona.

He holds a bachelor’s of science degree in construction management from Arizona State University.

Orsborn is currently vice president of operations at Arizona Southwest Construction, and previously has been employed in construction and land development and project management.

He and his wife, Tina, have an 11-year old daughter and a 7-year old son.

Orsborn, a graduate of the Buckeye Leadership Academy, is also a member of Fighter Country Partnership, a group that supports the men, women and the mission of Luke Air Force Base.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Mayor Greg Stanton, City of Phoenix

Greg Stanton was raised in West Phoenix.  His dad rode the city bus to his job as a shoe salesman and his mom, Mary Ann, was a devoted educator.  The Stantons instilled in their children the importance of giving to others, and in that spirit they founded the Christian Needs Network, a group of multi-faith volunteers who collected clothes, food and diapers for members of their community in need.

Following high school, Greg attended Marquette University and earned the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, a national award for students committed to pursuing careers in public service. While at Marquette, he and a classmate founded an after-school program at the Downtown Milwaukee YMCA helping fourth and fifth grade students with homework and basketball.  He also was awarded a grant from the Milwaukee Foundation to study inner city hidden unemployment.

After earning his law degree from the University of Michigan, Greg returned to Phoenix where he practiced education law at Jennings Strouss & Salmon and later Quarles & Brady LLP.  In 2001, he left private law practice to serve on the Phoenix City Council, where he represented the sixth district for nine years.  This district includes the Biltmore, Ahwatukee Foothills, Arcadia and North Central neighborhoods. With a staunch commitment to creating high-wage jobs in Phoenix, Greg was the lead councilman bringing the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), the ASU downtown campus and the U of A medical school to the city.

In 2009, Greg joined the state Attorney General’s office as Deputy Attorney General, where he helped lead the effort to stop funding of cartels who traffic people and drugs across our southern border. He worked to protect consumers and homeowners by fighting the predatory payday lending industry, and focused on eliminating mortgage fraud. 
Greg and his wife Nicole have two young children, Trevor and Violet.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Vice Mayor Jenn Daniels, Town of Gilbert

Jenn Daniels was elected to a four-year term in May 2009.  Jenn has served her community for five years on the board of a non-profit, worked on several state ballot initiatives, volunteers with charitable organizations and takes an active interest in the Gilbert community.

She has a B.A. in Humanities and worked for six years in finance - three in the private sector and three more as the owner of her own small business.

Jenn is active in her church, enjoys reading and outdoor activities, is a precinct committeewoman and loves spending time with her family.  Jenn is married to Eric Daniels and they have three young sons.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Vice Mayor Jim McDonald, City of Avondale

Councilmember McDonald began his term as a Valley Metro board member in February 2009. He currently serves Avondale as Chair of the Risk Management Trust Fund Board and as Council Ambassador to the Agua Fria Union High School District. McDonald is past Avondale representative to the Citizens Traffic Oversight Committee and past Chair of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

He is employed as a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments and formerly held the position as process engineer for semiconductor manufacturing. His professional experience also includes aircraft radar repair for the United States Army and Air Force Reserve.

The Arizona native is involved in his community by participating in church leadership activities. He is married and has two children.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Joe Pizzillo, City of Goodyear

Joe Pizzillo was elected to his first four year council term in 2009, and through a vote by Council was elected Vice Mayor. His priorities as a Councilmember include ensuring the city’s financial stability, maintaining quality services that are cost-effective, and protecting our neighborhoods by improving public safety.

Pizzillo brings 30 years experience in state and local government budgeting and finance to his seat on the council. Prior to his retirement from the city of Goodyear in 2008, he served as the Budget Manager. Currently, he is an adjunct professor of Accounting and Finance with the University of Phoenix and Estrella Mountain Community College.

Joe serves on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Lending Closet and is an active member of the Southwest Valley Chamber of Commerce and the White Tanks Rotary Club.

He earned his business degree from the University of Maryland and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.

A Valley resident since 1986, Joe and his wife Vickie live in Goodyear. His son, Nicholas, and his wife, Kristen, have blessed him with a granddaughter named Sophia.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Vice Mayor Kathie Farr, City of Tolleson

Kathie Farr was elected as a City Council Member in 1999, and has consistently contributed to developing policies to strengthen the city. She collaborates with other council members to create planning and zoning regulations, develop the annual budget, and assists in bringing forth new economic development initiatives and creating plans to ensure employee retention.

Council Member Farr is very involved in community and professional organizations. She is a member of the National League of Cities, Women in Municipal Government, the Human Development Policy and Advocacy Committee, the Tolleson Woman’s Club, and is the secretary of the Maricopa County Human Service Commission.

Council Member Farr received the Arizona League of Cities Dedicated Involvement Award and many leadership achievement awards from National League of Cities.

As a 31-year resident of Tolleson, Council Member Farr is dedicated to serving the residents of Tolleson. She is the mother of four children and a grandmother to five.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Mayor Lana Mook, El Mirage

Mayor Lana Mook was elected as Mayor of the City of El Mirage in 2010.  She serves on the WESTMARC (Western Maricopa Coalition) Board of Directors and the Regional Council for Maricopa Association of Governments.  Although new to public service, Mayor Mook is not new to the world of community involvement and civic leadership.  She spent many years dedicating time to the Phoenix Suns Charities, the Girl Scouts of America, and the U.S. Forest Service (Smokey Bear and Woodsey Owl Fire Prevention Programs). 

Mook worked more than three decades in management, training and patient relations in the healthcare industry.  She has a passion for volunteering in El Mirage and pursuing her commitment to help improve the community.  Mook co-founded the People of El Mirage (POEM), a civic-based community organization. POEM focuses on assisting residents, making them aware of issues, and partnering with local public safety officials on increasing safety in local neighborhoods.  Under her leadership, the organization promoted local support for Luke Air Force Base, raised funds for local Cub Scouts and volunteered on numerous food and clothing drives.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Supervisor Max Wilson, Maricopa County

Supervisor Max W. Wilson was appointed to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors on February 14, 2002 to replace former Supervisor Jan Brewer. Wilson ran for re-election later in 2002 and again in 2004 and 2008. Wilson served as Chairman in 2005 and 2009. As a resident of the West Valley, Supervisor Wilson serves District Four.

Wilson graduated from Granite High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. After graduation he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1959 until 1963. After briefly working for Luke Air Force Base, he started his career in real estate and development.

An active member of the West Valley, Wilson served as a Councilmember and Vice Mayor on the Litchfield Park City Council. He has served on the Peeples Valley/Yarnell Historical Society Board of Directors, Arizona Diamondbacks Charity Board of Directors and the Sun Health La Loma Board of Directors.

As a member of the Board of Supervisors, Wilson serves on the Maricopa County Trail Commission, Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Transportation Policy Committee, MAG Regional Council, Military Airport Preservation Committee, the Maricopa County Flood Control District, Stadium District, and Library District.

Wilson has been married more than 49 years and has four daughters and eight grandchildren. His hobbies include golf, fly fishing, bridge and hiking at White Tank Maricopa County Regional Park.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Robert Littlefield, City of Scottsdale

Councilman Robert W. Littlefield began his first term on the Scottsdale City Council in June 2002 and was reelected to a second term beginning in June 2006.

He is the founder and president of NetXpert Systems, Inc., a Scottsdale-based computer company. He also is a commercial pilot and flight instructor.

He first lived in Scottsdale from 1971 to 1975. He returned to stay in 1984.

Councilman Littlefield has been involved in a variety of civic, youth and professional organizations. He served 11 years as a board member in the Arcadia Scottsdale United Soccer Club and 20 years working with Scottsdale’s kids as a youth soccer and baseball coach and soccer referee. He is a member and former director of the Arizona Software & Internet Association. Other memberships include the Arizona Pilot’s Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, National Federation of Independent Business, American Legion, Kiwanis Club and Civitan. The Councilman also is an Eagle Scout.

A Vietnam combat veteran, Councilman Littlefield served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970 and in the Arizona Army National Guard from 1971 to 1974.

Councilman Littlefield holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Arizona State University.

He and his wife Kathy have been married 37 years and have two grown children.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Ron Aames, City of Peoria
Chair

Budget and Finance Subcommittee

Councilmember Ron Aames joined the Peoria City Council on Jan. 2, 2007 as the representative of the Palo Verde District. He was elected to a four-year term in November 2006. His goal is to champion the needs and wishes of his fellow citizens in the PaloVerde District and Peoria.

Ron and his wife Jacqueline, who is a college professor and writer, moved from out-of-state to Peoria in August 2002. They both love the variety and wonderful climate of the Valley of the Sun. They have a large extended family in the Northwest Valley.

Educationally, Aames has a background in planning and city development, areas he anticipates will benefit him in his work as a councilmember. His degrees include a Ph.D., which focused on urban development, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master’s from California State Polytechnic University-Pomona (Cal Poly Pomona), which focused on transportation planning.

In business, Aames has been a corporate executive for hi-tech, banking, and marketing companies. In the marketing area, he was a managing consultant for eight years for The Gallup Organization, where his clients included federal government agencies. He worked for Gallup for two years after moving to Peoria, traveling frequently to Washington, D.C. to meet with clients. Aames currently is an independent marketing consultant.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Rui Pereira, Town of Wickenburg

Rui Pereira has a background in hotel operations and information technology. He started his Information Technology career as a software trainer/project manager for Micros Fidelio Software in South America and the Caribbean.

Most recently, Mr. Pereira was Director of Information Technology and Chief Information Officer for Loreto Bay Company in Scottsdale. He has also been a member of the launch team for the opening of the Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix.

He has owned and operated a home electronics implementation company that was formed to build smart homes using electronic devices to control temperature and other lifestyle preferences.

Today, Mr. Pereira is the general manager at Rancho de los Caballeros where he is focused on providing the best guest experience possible and a safe working environment for staff.

He lives in Wickenburg with his wife Cathy and their two dogs, Stella Luna and Zeppelin.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Vice Mayor Scott Somers, City of Mesa
Vice-Chair

Vice Mayor Somers represents Mesa’s District 6 and has been serving as a Mesa councilmember since June 2006. As an employee of the Phoenix fire department, Somers has participated on the Arizona Task Force One for the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team. Somers also serves as a faculty associate for Arizona State University and is a consultant for the Continuity of Government/Operations Planning.

Somers’ community involvement includes serving as Chair of the Council Audit and Finance Committee, as well as serving on the committees of public safety and general & economic development. He is also a board member of the East Valley Partnership, Mesa United Way, a representative on the Mesa Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Arizona Town Hall.

His membership includes the American Society for Public Administration, International Research Committee on Disasters and received the National Defense Service Medal from the US Air Force in 1991.

The Vice Mayor received his Ph.D. in Public Administration from Arizona State University in 2007 and received his M.S. in Technology from ASU Polytechnic in 2002.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Shana Ellis, City of Tempe

Shana Ellis was elected to the Tempe City Council in March 2006 and was re-elected in March 2010. She was raised in Tempe and graduated from Tempe High School and Arizona State University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business/Computer Information Systems and a Master’s in Public Administration. Ellis is chair of the Transportation Committee and Technology Sustainability Sub-Committee, and serves on the Housing Committee, Community Sustainability Committee, the Mill and Lake District Committee, Community Ad Hoc Committee on Long-Range Finance Planning, and the Papago Park Master Plan Committee. Recently, she was appointed to the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) Transportation Policy Committee (TPC) and to the National League of Cities Transportation Infrastructure and Services Policy and Advocacy Committees.

Ellis’ leadership experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of Tempe Leadership (President in 2004, the Tempe Human Relations Commission (Chair in 2000), Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council (Chair in 2001-2002), and the Kiwanis Club of Tempe (President in 2002). Along with serving as Tempe’s representative to the Metro Rail Board, Ellis is also a Tempe Community Council board member and a member of the Community and Economic Development Policy/Advocacy Committee of the National League of Cities.

She was most recently was awarded the 2010 Councilmember of the Year award from the regional branch of NAHRO and has been the recipient of the Brian Mickelsen Housing Hero Award in the category of elected official.

Ellis is married and has two children. She retired from Tempe Community Council in 2006, after a 20-year tenure, where she worked with hundreds of non-profit organizations and community groups.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Mayor Sharon Wolcott, City of Surprise

Mayor Sharon Wolcott was elected November 2011 on a platform that called for creating more jobs, providing new education options and addressing traffic congestion in Surprise.

The former District 1 council member also has worked hard to bring about more fiscal accountability and transparency at City Hall, and intends to continue the fight for taxpayers in her new job.

As Mayor, she has promised to reach out to the community with regular town hall meetings in neighborhoods across Surprise. Sharon believes city government works best when elected officials and senior staff members take time away from City Hall to engage residents on the issues.

In December, she joined several members of the City Council in an initial round of public meetings to discuss what citizens believe the City’s priorities should be in 2012.

Her hands-on style of leadership is expected to help drive solutions to some of our community’s most pressing and important challenges and opportunities.

Sharon discovered Surprise in 2003. Her first opportunity to serve here came in 2008, when she was appointed to the Surprise Transportation Commission, serving as Vice-Chair. She was elected to the Surprise City Council in 2009.

Before coming to our community, Sharon previously served on the city council in Newport, MN and as a state legislator in both the Minnesota House and Senate.

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Valley Metro Board of Directors

Councilmember Trinity Donovan, City of Chandler
Treasurer

Councilmember Trinity Donovan has lived in Chandler for 25 years. She began her tenure on the City Council in June 2006.

She currently represents the City of Chandler on a regional level as chair of the Maricopa Association of Governments Human Services Coordinating Committee and as a board member for both the Arizona Municipal Water User’s Association and the Valley Metro Regional Public Transportation Authority. She also represents the City at a national level through her involvement in the National League of Cities’ Community and Economic Development Committee and the Council on Youth, Education, and Families. Additionally, she chairs the STAR Community Sustainability Index Technical Advisory Committee for Health and Safety.

Councilmember Donovan is the Executive Director of Chandler Christian Community Center. Working in leadership positions with a variety of nonprofits for the past 10 years, Councilmember Donovan has also been involved in many community coalitions in areas including financial stability, homelessness, domestic violence, early childhood, and youth development. She is active in her church and performs service projects internationally. Most recently, she traveled to Ethiopia with Hope for the Hopeless to work with an orphanage. Locally, Councilmember Donovan volunteers for a variety of organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona as a Big Sister and is a member of the Chandler Service Club.

Councilmember Donovan has been honored by the Business Journal as one of its "Forty under 40," received the Soroptimist Woman of Distinction Award, Chandler Alliance for Character Award, IMPACT for Enterprising Women Celebration of Success Award, and the Stanford Associates Achievement Award.

A graduate of Chandler High School, Councilmember Donovan holds a bachelor's degree in Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and a master's degree in Sociology – both from Stanford University. She also attended and graduated from Chandler Leadership and Valley Leadership. Back to Board Listing