Session Presenters

Alphabetical by Last Name

Stan Barnes

Copper State Consulting Group

Stan was elected as the youngest member of the Arizona House of Representatives in 1988, where he served as Chairman of Committee with jurisdiction over water and energy issues. In 1994, he was elected as a State Senator, where he served as Chairman of Government Reform Committee. Stan is considered a go-to expert on Arizona politics for national and local media. Quoted in the NY Times, WSJ, Politico, Bloomberg, Arizona Republic, and regularly seen on Fox News, CNN, KTAR news radio, and all Phoenix TV News affiliates. Stan has also been named by Campaign and Elections Magazine as Top 5 Most influential Republicans in the State of AZ.

Tom Beckett

Assistant Superintendent of HR, Maricopa USD

Tom is the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator at Maricopa Unified School District, where he has served for 17 years. He has a Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Fine Arts, and has completed Post-Masters coursework in Educational Leadership. Tom is a former Classroom Teacher, Grant Writer and Director of Public Relations. He is married, a proud father of four daughters, and a grandfather of seven. We hear there is also a cat in the mix!

Chief Scott Freitag

Fire Chief, Central Arizona Fire and Medical Association

Fire Chief Scott Freitag has served in emergency services since 1993, and currently holds the position of Fire Chief for the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority. He started his career in Missouri and accepted the position of Fire Chief for the Chino Valley Fire District in 2013, shortly thereafter assuming the role of Fire Chief for the Central Yavapai Fire District under a Joint Management Agreement in July 2014. Chief Freitag and his team led the two agencies in creating the first Fire Authority in the State of Arizona. He has earned an associate degree in Fire Science, an undergraduate degree in Mass Communications, and a Master of Business Administration. Chief Freitag has also earned many professional certifications and designations throughout his career and has served as adjunct professor at both Lindenwood University and Northern Arizona University. Chief Freitag is the Immediate Past President for the Arizona Fire Chief’s Association, the current facilitator for the Arizona Fire Service Institute (AFSI) and is the current State of Arizona Representative to the Western Fire Chiefs Association (WFCA). In addition, he serves as the Career Section Representative for the Arizona Fire District’s Association, he’s a member of the Program Planning Committee for Fire Rescue International and is a current board member for the Coyote Crisis Collaborative.

Ashleigh Gunter

President & Founder, Translucent

Ashleigh Gunter is President of Translucent Healthcare Consulting. She has consulted with organizations including School Districts, Government Agencies, and Fortune 100 companies for over 30 years. Previously she worked for Accenture and Deloitte Consulting before founding and growing her own firm. She holds an M.B.A. in Strategy and Organizational Change from UT Austin.

Matthew Licardi

Wellness Specialist, Arizona Fire and Medical Authority

Matthew Licardi brings over 15 years of dedicated service to the Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (AFMA), where he has served as a firefighter/paramedic and, most recently, as an engineer. Now, as the Wellness Specialist for AFMA, Matthew plays a crucial role in overseeing the Peer Support Team and initiating programs that focus on mental health and resiliency within the organization. Matthew is a proud graduate of Arizona State University, holding bachelor's degrees in American History and Elementary Education. Currently pursuing a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree at Grand Canyon University, he is passionate about furthering his expertise to contribute to the well-being of individuals both in and outside the emergency services field.

Tyler Moore

CFO, Higley USD

Tyler has been a dedicated member of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials Board of Directors since July 2022, contributing over 3 years as Chief Financial Officer at Higley Unified School District. He is skilled in operations management, finance, and nonprofit organizations. Tyler holds an MBA in Accounting from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies in Business and Public Administration from Arizona State University.

Dr. Melissa Sadorf

Superintendent, Stanfield ESD

Member, Governor's Educator Retention Task Force

Dr. Melissa Sadorf is the superintendent of the Stanfield Elementary School District. In this rural district, she also serves as the business manager, federal grant programs director, and HR director. Dr. Sadorf currently serves as the Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association, the Arizona Affiliate of ASCD and for the Northern Arizona University Rural Resource Center. She was a member of the Governor‘s Task Force on Educator Retention.

Roger Spivey

Director of Purchasing, Scottsdale USD

Roger Spivey is the Director of Purchasing at Scottsdale Unified School District. Roger has over twenty years of purchasing experience and has spent the last twelve years helping School Districts navigate the maze of public procurement. Roger is an active member of AASBO and the NIGP-Capital Chapter.

Dr. Paul Tighe

Executive Director, Arizona School Administrators

Dr. Tighe became Executive Director for Arizona School Administrators in July 2022, after more than three decades of service to public school districts in Arizona and Vermont. He began his career teaching and has held positions as a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal and teacher at over seven different districts. Tighe received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Vermont and earned a doctoral degree in Educational Administration and Supervision at Arizona State University in 2007. In 2008, Dr. Tighe received the Arizona School Administrators Outstanding Doctoral Student Award. Dr. Tighe has served as an adjunct professor for Wayland Baptist University at its Luke Air Force Base campus, teaching courses in educator preparation and leadership, and previously taught online classes for the University of Phoenix.