{"id":1914,"date":"2021-02-03T09:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-03T16:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/raisingspecialkids.net\/?page_id=1914"},"modified":"2025-03-06T15:42:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T22:42:18","slug":"about-us-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/raisingspecialkids.net\/es\/about-us-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Team"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our Team<\/h1><\/div>\n<\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Leadership Team<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Christopher Tiffany, Executive Director<\/strong> – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em>
Chris came to Raising Special Kids from the public school system in central Phoenix where he was a dedicated Special Education teacher and facilitator. Chris and his wife, Paulina, are parents to their only son who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Bringing his knowledge of special education as an educator and as a parent, Chris is dedicated to the mission of supporting families who are raising children, of all ages, with special needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janna Murrell, Assistant Executive Director<\/strong>
Janna Murrell became a volunteer with Raising Special Kids in 1998, after experiencing firsthand the value of parent-to-parent support when her son was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. After working with families in the nonprofit arena for 12 years Janna joined the staff at Raising Special Kids in 2008 and has worn several hats; Family Support Specialist, Director of Family Support and Education, and now Assistant Executive Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janna is a credentialed Peer Parent Support Partner and BHT; certified trainer of the ASQ 3 and ASQ se: accredited provider of Level 4 Group Stepping Stones Triple P; certified trainer for Serving on Groups That Make Decisions; and certified in Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ang\u00e9lica Lara, Behavioral Health Program Administrator – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kathy Gray-Mangerson, Education System Administrator<\/strong>
As the education systems administrator, Kathy trains staff on education issues and serves on several state and national education committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For over a decade, Kathy has helped parents navigate special education, understand state programs, and connect with resources in their communities. Before coming to Raising Special Kids, she spent five years with the Arizona Department of Education as a Parent Information Network specialist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kathy\u2019s passion for special education is both professional and personal. Her adult son has a specific learning disability, and her two granddaughters have IEPs, making her involvement with special education a multi-generational journey. She is dedicated to empowering parents and professionals with the knowledge they need to understand and navigate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and 504 plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nannette Salasek, Healthcare Systems Administrator – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em>
Nannette draws on her extensive experience navigating state and federal programs that support families of children with disabilities as healthcare systems administrator at Raising Special Kids. With a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of raising a child with unique healthcare needs, Nannette is dedicated to providing guidance and support to families in similar situations. She believes in the power of working alongside a staff made up of parents who understand the journey firsthand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to her role at Raising Special Kids, Nannette serves on the Family Faculty and Executive Patient Experience committees at Phoenix Children\u2019s Hospital, advocating for families and ensuring the parent perspective is represented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a mother of six, Nannette\u2019s personal experience fuels her passion for advocacy. After having two healthy children, her third was diagnosed in utero with spina bifida. Several of her other children have faced medical and behavioral challenges, strengthening her resolve to support families and remind them they are not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through both her professional and personal experiences, Nannette is a steadfast advocate for families navigating the complexities of caring for children with diverse needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wendi Scharnhorst, Director, Staff Development and Training<\/strong>
Wendi has a passion for supporting and educating families and professionals when it comes to children with special health care needs. She has facilitated hundreds of workshops and trusts that families can make the best decisions for themselves and their children. She recognizes that raising children can be difficult, but believes the more educated we are, the better the outcomes are for our children. Wendi has three teenagers of her own, two of whom have special health care needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viviana Sexton, Finance Manager<\/strong> – Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Neil Wintle, Director of Operations<\/strong>
Neil joined Raising Special Kids in 2011. Neil\u2019s previous work experience includes operations management, database administration, and marketing consultation. Neil also has extensive experience in client relations and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neil is the father of two. When Neil\u2019s youngest son was born four months early, his family began a 108-day journey through the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). During this time, Neil’s oldest child began to struggle in school and was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD. As a result of his family\u2019s experience, Neil has a passion for supporting NICU families and those with learning disabilities.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Staff<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Chris Ames, Human Resources Administrator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Anderson, Family Support Specialist – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Barr, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trudy Billy, Director of Outreach and Tribal Programs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angel Cazares, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brandi Clark, Early Intervention Program Administrator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whitney Cooley, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Crain, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Roxanna Diehl, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sarah Dorman, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veronica Garcia-Benne, Family Support Specialist – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rachel Hanzuk, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Henretta, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Amellaly Martinez, Family Support Specialist Early Intervention – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maureen Mills, Communications Coordinator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasha Peters, Famly Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kelly Randall, Parent Leader Program Coordinator<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cristina Renteria, Family Support Specialist – Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dolores Rios, Family Support Specialist – Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicky Rozich, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jessica Ruvalcaba, Administrative Assistant – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paulina Serna, Development Associate – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laurie Shook, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Simon-Topoff, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carolyn Sostrom, Family Support Specialist<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gloria Vidal, Family Support Specialist – <\/strong>Habla Espa\u00f1ol<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn about Raising Special Kids staff and management most of whom are parents of children or adults with 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