Board of Directors
Naketa Ross, Executive Director
Founder
Naketa Ross is the epitome of resilience. She founded our researched based, trauma informed program to assist young adults in preparing to age out of foster care. She moved to Arizona after studying Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Upon moving to Arizona, Naketa began working with marginalized youth as an advocate and empower them to make healthy decisions. It is during her work with the youth that Naketa realized the gap in services provided for youth leaving foster care ages 15-21. This inspired her to start ResilientMe to fill the void left by legislators and organizations.
Founder
Naketa Ross is the epitome of resilience. She founded our researched based, trauma informed program to assist young adults in preparing to age out of foster care. She moved to Arizona after studying Psychology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Upon moving to Arizona, Naketa began working with marginalized youth as an advocate and empower them to make healthy decisions. It is during her work with the youth that Naketa realized the gap in services provided for youth leaving foster care ages 15-21. This inspired her to start ResilientMe to fill the void left by legislators and organizations.
Chad Campbell
Chad Campbell is a native Arizonan with a long history of political service, public affairs work, and community leadership. As a graduate of Northern Arizona University, he cut his teeth in politics while living in Flagstaff by volunteering for Karen English’s first campaign for Congress. His interest and involvement in politics only grew from that point forward.
In the early 2000s, he began working with various progressive non-profit organizations and Democratic campaigns across the state, most notably managing now U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s first two campaigns for the Arizona State Legislature. After running several successful campaigns, Chad decided to take the next step and run for office himself.
In 2006, Chad was elected to the Arizona Legislature. After just one term he was elected to serve as the House Democratic Whip. And in 2010, his caucus elected him to serve as the House Democratic Leader, making him one of the youngest House Minority Leaders in Arizona History. He served in that role for two terms until he left office in 2014.
During his eight-year history in the Arizona State Legislature Chad worked on several issues key to improving the quality of life for Arizonans. Comprehensive tax reform, accountability for the private prison industry, renewable energy, and fighting for additional funding for education and human services year after year. During his tenure as House Democratic Leader, the House Democratic caucus released their own budget every year – something that was unprecedented at the time. Chad’s reasoning for doing this was his fundamental belief that a budget is a reflection of values, and if you’re not demonstrating your values to the public then you are failing as an elected official. In 2011, Chad also created a caucus campaign committee (for the first time in Arizona history) that raised over $1 million for the 2012 election year – actually outraising a similar effort by the Republican Speaker of the House. Those efforts resulted in a four seat pick up for Democrats in that election year.
Chad also demonstrated his skills as a political strategist and the ability to work across the political aisle on an expansive array of bipartisan issues, most notably teaming up with then Republican Governor Jan Brewer to help lead a bipartisan coalition in passing Medicaid expansion, as well as leading a national campaign against SB1062 (an anti- LGBTQ measure) that ultimately led to a veto from Governor Brewer.
Chad is now a Senior Vice President at Strategies 360, a western based public affairs firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. He is one of the senior team members in S360’s Arizona office, where he works with clients in a variety of sectors including education, healthcare & human services, energy, and public safety.
Chad Campbell is a native Arizonan with a long history of political service, public affairs work, and community leadership. As a graduate of Northern Arizona University, he cut his teeth in politics while living in Flagstaff by volunteering for Karen English’s first campaign for Congress. His interest and involvement in politics only grew from that point forward.
In the early 2000s, he began working with various progressive non-profit organizations and Democratic campaigns across the state, most notably managing now U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s first two campaigns for the Arizona State Legislature. After running several successful campaigns, Chad decided to take the next step and run for office himself.
In 2006, Chad was elected to the Arizona Legislature. After just one term he was elected to serve as the House Democratic Whip. And in 2010, his caucus elected him to serve as the House Democratic Leader, making him one of the youngest House Minority Leaders in Arizona History. He served in that role for two terms until he left office in 2014.
During his eight-year history in the Arizona State Legislature Chad worked on several issues key to improving the quality of life for Arizonans. Comprehensive tax reform, accountability for the private prison industry, renewable energy, and fighting for additional funding for education and human services year after year. During his tenure as House Democratic Leader, the House Democratic caucus released their own budget every year – something that was unprecedented at the time. Chad’s reasoning for doing this was his fundamental belief that a budget is a reflection of values, and if you’re not demonstrating your values to the public then you are failing as an elected official. In 2011, Chad also created a caucus campaign committee (for the first time in Arizona history) that raised over $1 million for the 2012 election year – actually outraising a similar effort by the Republican Speaker of the House. Those efforts resulted in a four seat pick up for Democrats in that election year.
Chad also demonstrated his skills as a political strategist and the ability to work across the political aisle on an expansive array of bipartisan issues, most notably teaming up with then Republican Governor Jan Brewer to help lead a bipartisan coalition in passing Medicaid expansion, as well as leading a national campaign against SB1062 (an anti- LGBTQ measure) that ultimately led to a veto from Governor Brewer.
Chad is now a Senior Vice President at Strategies 360, a western based public affairs firm headquartered in Seattle, Washington. He is one of the senior team members in S360’s Arizona office, where he works with clients in a variety of sectors including education, healthcare & human services, energy, and public safety.
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Christle Jones
Protective Services Attorney
Gila River Indian Community
Christle’s story began at the age of thirteen during the adoption proceeding for two children her mother fostered. The judge presiding over the hearing invited Christle to the bench to bang the gavel, finalizing the adoption. It was in this moment, Christle decided she would become a judge. Christle realized the power that lied in a judge’s decision—in her case, the power to decide her brothers’ family, fate and future. Christle is not a judge, yet, but she is well on her way.
Presently, Christle serves as a Protective Services Attorney for the Gila River Indian Community. In this role, Christle prosecutes delinquency and dependency cases. Daily Christle encounters children who suffer from trauma, and she strives to change the trajectory for these children. She strives to give them hope and a future.
Protective Services Attorney
Gila River Indian Community
Christle’s story began at the age of thirteen during the adoption proceeding for two children her mother fostered. The judge presiding over the hearing invited Christle to the bench to bang the gavel, finalizing the adoption. It was in this moment, Christle decided she would become a judge. Christle realized the power that lied in a judge’s decision—in her case, the power to decide her brothers’ family, fate and future. Christle is not a judge, yet, but she is well on her way.
Presently, Christle serves as a Protective Services Attorney for the Gila River Indian Community. In this role, Christle prosecutes delinquency and dependency cases. Daily Christle encounters children who suffer from trauma, and she strives to change the trajectory for these children. She strives to give them hope and a future.
Maren Mahoney
Maren and her husband Eric are licensed foster parents who are lucky enough to be in the process of adopting two amazing children, Zach, who is 3, and London, who is 18 months. Prior to becoming licensed as a foster parent, Maren mentored a teen girl in the foster system for four years. Professionally, Maren Mahoney manages EPIC, an energy policy think tank based in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University. As part of her work for EPIC, Maren conducts legal and regulatory analysis on transformative energy policies for state, county and local governments. She graduated from New York Law School in 2005 and holds active state bar membership in both New York and Arizona. She obtained a Master’s degree from ASU’s School of Sustainability in 2011, where she co-founded The Sustainability Review online magazine and workshop. Previously, Maren was a litigator in New York. She believes that through significant policy improvements, community support, and individual skill building, every child can have the opportunity to be experience a joyful childhood, and to define and achieve their own success as an adult.
Maren and her husband Eric are licensed foster parents who are lucky enough to be in the process of adopting two amazing children, Zach, who is 3, and London, who is 18 months. Prior to becoming licensed as a foster parent, Maren mentored a teen girl in the foster system for four years. Professionally, Maren Mahoney manages EPIC, an energy policy think tank based in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at Arizona State University. As part of her work for EPIC, Maren conducts legal and regulatory analysis on transformative energy policies for state, county and local governments. She graduated from New York Law School in 2005 and holds active state bar membership in both New York and Arizona. She obtained a Master’s degree from ASU’s School of Sustainability in 2011, where she co-founded The Sustainability Review online magazine and workshop. Previously, Maren was a litigator in New York. She believes that through significant policy improvements, community support, and individual skill building, every child can have the opportunity to be experience a joyful childhood, and to define and achieve their own success as an adult.
Murphy Bannerman
Murphy Bannerman has lived in Arizona for over 15 years and is an alumnus of Arizona State University with a degree in Sociology. She is very active in the community from leading the Women's March Phoenix for the last three years, to Co-Director of the We the People Summit. She currently works as the Communications Director for the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee with previous work as a Photojournalist. Murphy is very passionate about empowering members of the community to succeed
Murphy Bannerman has lived in Arizona for over 15 years and is an alumnus of Arizona State University with a degree in Sociology. She is very active in the community from leading the Women's March Phoenix for the last three years, to Co-Director of the We the People Summit. She currently works as the Communications Director for the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee with previous work as a Photojournalist. Murphy is very passionate about empowering members of the community to succeed
Semaj T Funderburg
Semaj T Funderburg is the mother of 12 year old twin daughters. She currently works in Human Resources as a Classification and Compensation Analyst for the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety. Prior to coming to Arizona in 2016, she worked as an Administrative Coordinator at the University of Chicago Hospital. Semaj graduated in 2014 from DeVry University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Human Resources.
Semaj T Funderburg is the mother of 12 year old twin daughters. She currently works in Human Resources as a Classification and Compensation Analyst for the State of Arizona Department of Child Safety. Prior to coming to Arizona in 2016, she worked as an Administrative Coordinator at the University of Chicago Hospital. Semaj graduated in 2014 from DeVry University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration Human Resources.
Todd Belfer
Todd Belfer is Managing Partner of Canal Partners.
He was a founder of the successful Japanese restaurant chain RA, Additionally, Mr. Belfer serves on the Board of Directors for Omedix, Deal Current Network, Limos.com, ClickDimensions, and Sauce Pizza & Wine.
Todd Belfer is Managing Partner of Canal Partners.
He was a founder of the successful Japanese restaurant chain RA, Additionally, Mr. Belfer serves on the Board of Directors for Omedix, Deal Current Network, Limos.com, ClickDimensions, and Sauce Pizza & Wine.