Our Team

Joining the Higher Ground team means more than accepting a role— It’s a commitment to reaching Higher Ground, together. These individuals strive to honor and empower themselves, others, and the community each day.

Higher Ground’s Executive Team

  • Jansen Azarias-Suzumoto

    Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder

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  • Barbara Azarias

    Chief of Staff & Co-Founder

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  • Rema Hamdan

    Chief Operating Officer

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  • Erika Diaz

    Chief Administration Officer

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  • Dallas Lara Valencia

    Chief Quality Officer

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  • Kat St.Pierre

    Chief Community Officer

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Higher Ground’s Team

  • Kenneth Welch

    Director of Outreach & District Partnerships

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  • Stephanie Codd-Anderson

    External Team Member

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  • Tiffany Emerson

    Grant Writer & External Project Manager

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  • Tina Marie Lopez

    Grant Administrator

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  • Taimar Escamilla

    Data & Technology Coordinator

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  • Jimmy Barrios

    IT Support Coordinator

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  • Jean McKnight- Guymon

    Development Coordinator

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  • Rachel Joseph

    Data & Technology Coordinator

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  • Rosa Lee Barbeau

    Office Manager

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  • JT Salah

    Data Entry Specialist

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  • Kenji Azarias

    Restart SMART Strategy Support Specialist II

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  • Larissa Alarcon-Teposte

    Data & Technology Specialist

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  • Alondra Guzman

    Restart SMART Strategy Coach II

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  • Brittany Taylor

    Restart SMART Strategy Coach I

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  • Charles "Chippy" Sejalbo

    Restart SMART Strategy Coach I

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  • Cianna Rios

    Quality Project Coordinator

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  • Ramon Sarmiento

    San Miguel Intern

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  • Samantha Trujillo Lino

    San Miguel Intern

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  • Claudio Guzman

    San Miguel Intern

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  • Mia Bermudez Murrieta

    San Miguel Intern

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  • Mariafernanda Mange

    San Miguel Intern

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  • Genesis Pinueals

    San Miguel Intern

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Apollo Middle School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Amaris Abril

    Site Director

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  • Sonia Virgin

    Family Support Coordinator

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  • Josiah Lopez

    Student Support Specialist

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Doolen Middle School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Kim Clark

    Site Director

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  • Pak Yang

    Family Support Coordinator

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  • Sama Albasha

    Student Support Specialist

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Roberts Naylor’s Restart SMART Team

  • Esiquio "Zeke" Lara

    Site Director

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  • Cristian Morales Reyes

    Family Support Specialist

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Safford PreK-8 Community School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Fred Ronstadt

    Site Director

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  • Inna Chavez

    Family Support Specialist

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  • Mauricio Salazar

    Student Support Specialist

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Utterback Middle School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Cheryl Lopez

    Site Director

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  • Libby Sotelo

    Student Support Specialist

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  • Angelique Matus

    Family Support Coordinator

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Southside Community School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Lisette Williams

    Site Director

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  • Isabel Alarcon

    Family Support Specialist

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Willis Jr. High School’s Restart SMART Team

  • Yolanda Huynh

    Site Director

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  • Joe Archuleta

    Family Support Specialist

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  • Korena Barron

    Student Support Specialist

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Out of School Time Team

  • David Rankin

    Out of School Time Coordinator

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  • Jesus Romero

    Judo Facilitator

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  • Chris Brevick

    Judo Facilitator

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  • David Membrila

    Judo Facilitator

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Consultants & On-Site Partners

  • Tim Sumner & Steve Owen

    Tucson Dojo

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  • Michael DiMaria

    Business and Government Consultant