Staff and Board of Directors
Duet Staff
Directors
Elizabeth Banta, MC, Executive Director
banta@duetaz.org
Elizabeth Banta serves as Executive Director of Duet and has held that position since 1995. She received a Master’s Degree in Counseling and Certificate in Gerontology from Arizona State University. Bachelor’s degrees were earned at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Her current position brings full circle a journey that began in 1985, when she first served as a gerontology intern at Duet (formerly Beatitudes Center DOAR). Following her internship, she joined Duet’s staff and coordinated volunteer services for homebound adults. From 1988 through 1995 she worked in case management by assisting clients through the Senior Adult for Independent Living (SAIL) program and the Arizona Long Term Care System. During those years, she served Duet in a volunteer capacity and was honored to rejoin the staff in her current role. Providing compassionate help to older adults and family caregivers through community-based programs drives Elizabeth’s career vision.
Patricia Dominguez, MSW, Director of Kinship Services
dominguez@duetaz.org
Patricia Dominguez is the Director of Kinship Services and is a leading local expert on issues specific to grandparents raising grandchildren. She holds a Master’s of Social Work degree from Arizona State University and has been effectively working on grandparents’ issues for the last 10 years. Under Patricia’s leadership, Duet has provided services to over 1000 grandparents raising grandchildren and other relative caregivers. Patricia successfully established several support groups throughout the Valley. She also created an all-day annual conference that provides important information to grandparents raising grandchildren. She designed a respite care service to help grandparents get time away from their daily caregiver responsibilities. Patricia also started a social therapeutic group that helps grandchildren adjust to their new situations.
Donna Heppermann, MSW, Director of Caregiver Services
heppermann@duetaz.org
Donna Heppermann serves as Director of Caregiver Services for Duet. She has worked with family caregivers for the past 25 years, 20 of them as head of the Generations Program for Duet (formerly Beatitudes Center DOAR). She began Project GrandCare at Center DOAR, the first program of its kind in Arizona. She also started the Central Arizona Kinship Caregiver Coalition in 1996 and co-led that organization until the beginning of 2009. Donna was on the national board of OWL, the Voice of Midlife and Older Women. She has presented at conferences in Arizona, the US and internationally. She is co-chair of the Collaboration Committee of the Arizona Caregiver Coalition, is actively working with the Carers of Ireland, and recently went to Romania to consult with officials about the creation of programs for low income older adults. Donna received her MSW from the University of Nebraska.
Sandra Keaton Leander, Communications Director
leander@duetaz.org
Sandy Leander serves as Communications Director for Duet. She has worked for the organization since 2007 and was brought on board to develop and implement a strategic communications initiative. Previously, Sandy worked as a Media Relations Representative for Salt River Project. She spent many years in the Radio/Television industry and worked as a television Anchor/Reporter in Tucson, Arizona. She served in a variety of positions at several Arizona radio stations. Public relations awards include IABC – 1993, and APEX – 1993. Journalism honors include First and Second Place AP Awards in 1989, 1990, 1991, and the 1990 SAEMS Environmental Reporter of the Year. Sandy received her BA in Radio/Television – Broadcast Journalism from the University of Arizona.
Sue Reckinger, CVA, Director of Volunteer Services
reckinger@duetaz.org
Sue Reckinger serves as Director of Volunteer Services for Duet and has held this position since September of 2007. She has worked in the field of volunteerism since 1991. Previously, Sue worked at the Area Agency on Aging, Region One as the Volunteer Specialist within the Maricopa Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Prior to the Area Agency, Sue served as the Transportation Coordinator and Coordinator of Services at Duet (formerly Beatitudes Center DOAR’s VICaP Program). Sue received her CVA (Certification of Volunteer Management) from the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration in October of 2007. In April of 2009, she was awarded the Lucia Causey Award from AVACA (Association of Volunteer Administration of Central Arizona for Excellence in Volunteer Management.)
Denise Viker RN, BSN, Director of Congregational Health Services
Eva Scholfield, CFRE, Director of Development
scholfield@duetaz.org
Eva Scholfield serves as Duet’s Director of Development. She has served the non-profit sector for almost two decades in nearly every capacity of fund development work. From annual campaigns to special events to planned giving, she has accomplished her goals in advancing the organizations that she has served. She achieved the prestigious CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) designation ten years ago. The CFRE denotes fundraising professionals who demonstrate the knowledge, skills and commitment to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice in serving the philanthropic sector. Eva is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Arizona Chapter where she serves on the membership committee, and the Planned Giving Roundtable of Arizona.
Staff
Ginger Austin, Secretary
Julie Blake, Administrative Assistant
Therese Davis, Coordinator of Services
Elaine Dinse, Administrative Assistant
Carol Houselog, Executive Secretary
Ruth Hunse, Administrative Assistant
Linda Lato, Service Specialist
Ricardo Samano, Service Coordinator
Nancy Splain, Outreach Coordinator
Virginia Torres, Receptionist
Beth Tucker, Service Coordinator
Board of Directors, 2009 – 2010
Officers
Rev. Dr. Nancy Nelson Elsenheimer, Board President
Rev. Dr. Nancy Nelson Elsenheimer is the Senior Co-Pastor of Church of the Beatitudes, United Church of Christ, serving since October 2006. She has been an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ since 1982, and has served in local congregations, conference and national settings. Her passion is justice for “all the people.” Preaching and teaching are priorities in her ministry.
Rabbi Martin Scharf, Vice President
Rabbi Martin Scharf is currently the vice-president of Duet’s Board of Directors. He has been involved with Duet for the past 13 years in various capacities. He is the rabbi at Kivel Campus of Care and the community chaplain for the non-affiliated Jewish community. He serves on three boards at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital and is active with many other organizations in the community.
Patricia Park, Treasurer
Patricia Park has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry. She began her career as an auditor with Deloitte & Touche in Cleveland and Phoenix. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Financial Planner™ in the US and Canada, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA), and a Personal Financial Specialist (PFS). During 2007, she served as President of the Greater Phoenix Financial Planning Association and the Planned Giving Round Table of Arizona. Also, she is a board member of Arizona Saves, and a mentor to Yavapai Community College in the Arizona Endowment Building Initiative.
Joyce Glazner, Secretary
Joyce Glazner spent her career as an educator at the high school and community college levels. Her involvement with Duet began as a volunteer shopper for homebound individuals. After helping several “neighbors,” she became a Duet board member and has enjoyed serving for several years. She has been especially involved with Duet’s annual fundraiser, Jazz Cabaret.
Members
Ann Boal
Ann Boal retired in 1999 from teaching in the Littleton Elementary School District. Born in Winnetka, Illinois, Ann graduated from the University of Denver and has lived in Arizona for more than 40 years. She is a former member of the A.S.U. Lyric Opera Guild Board. She is an active member of P.E.O. International and a past president of Chapter C in Glendale. As a current volunteer at Church of the Beatitudes, Ann is active in numerous areas within the church. This is her second term serving on the Duet Board of Directors.
Chris Collins
Chris Collins is a native of Portland, Oregon, but Arizona has been his home since 1996. Chris has worked in the hospitality and food service business for over 25 years. He enjoys cooking and entertaining because he likes to make people smile by sharing good food. Chris earned his B.S. in Music from the University of Oregon in 1992, with a secondary emphasis in business management. He is the proud father of two high-school aged daughters that both attend school in the valley. He is an active member of the Church of the Beatitudes choir. Also, Chris has sung with the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix since 2004.
Linda Coughenour
Linda Coughenour is Salt River Project’s Manager of Consumer Affairs and Hearing Officer for unresolved customer disputes. Linda holds an MBA from Arizona State University, majoring in Management and Conflict Resolution. She is an active member of the United States Ombudsman Association (USOA), the Association for conflict Resolution (ACR), the International Ombudsman Association (IOA, SOCAP), and the Arizona dispute Resolution Association (ADRA). She has served on various community Boards of Directors, but her current community service involves many responsibilities as Deacon of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale.
Dr. Wilma Basnett Emerson
Wilma Basnett is Superintendent of the Osborn School District, a position she has held for the past 21 years. She is an active member of the Phoenix West Rotary club. Wilma has served as Rotary District Governor for northwestern Arizona in 2005-06 and has been involved in both local and international service projects. Wilma attends the Church of the Beatitudes and joined the Duet board two years ago.
Susan Felt
Susan Felt is a senior reporter for The Arizona Republic and AZ Central. She has served on the board since 2008. She is a member of the Church of the Beatitudes and serves on its pastoral relations committee. Susan is a member of Leadership West and various professional journalism organizations. She is a wife, mother of two adult children and the long-distance caregiver for her mother.
Joe Fenicle
Joe Fenicle is a Technologies Directory at American Express and responsible for software development on its Accounts Receivable platform. He has served on the Duet board since 2007. Joe is a member of the Arizona State University Career Services Advisory Committee and is an active recruiter at ASU for American Express. He is involved in a variety of community activities, including teaching at the University of Phoenix for the last 5 years, and assistant coaching his son’s football team.
Joyce Glazner, Secretary
Joyce Glazner spent her career as an educator at the high school and community college levels. Her involvement with Duet began as a volunteer shopper for homebound individuals. After helping several “neighbors,” she became a Duet board member and has enjoyed serving for several years. She has been especially involved with Duet’s annual fundraiser, Jazz Cabaret.
Jim Hall
Jim Hall is a landscape design and build contractor with Sonoran Landesign. He has served on the Duet board since 2008. He has co-chaired the Scottsdale Relay for Life for a number of years. Jim is active in service at his synagogue. Also, he is a Duet volunteer and serves homebound individuals.
Carol Heimann
Carol Heimann currently is a faith community nurse and new to the Duet board. She has been an active participant in Duet’s faith community nursing activities for the last seven years. She attended Duet’s Basic Preparation Course, served as a Duet Outreach Liaison and participated in monthly peer support meetings. Also, Carol is a long-time volunteer for Planned Parenthood of Arizona, P.E.O. and The Alliance of the American Dental Association.
April Jones
April Jones is the Chief Information Officer for the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. April has served on the Duet Board of Directors since 2004. She is a 2007 Athena Award nominee and also serves on the John C. Lincoln, Desert Mission Neighborhood Renewal boards. She is involved in the Sunnyslope community and an active member of Church of the Beatitudes, including more than 10 years as a member of the choir.
Sharon Kearns
Sharon Kearns spent over 20 years employed in the insurance industry in sales and claims management, before stepping out of the workplace to raise her young daughter. After initiating and organizing two fundraising campaigns for other organizations, Sharon joined the Board of Directors in 2007, and is passionate about Duet’s fundraisers. She has been an active member of Church of the Beatitudes, UCC, for 15 years.
J. Christopher Moeser
J. Christopher Moeser is an associate at the Phoenix office of Steptoe & Johnson LLP. His practice focuses on media and constitutional law, and commercial litigation. He has worked as a criminal justice, general assignment and political reporter for The Phoenix Gazette and The Arizona Republic. Chris also served as a legal intern for The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, where he was involved in researching legal issues on broadcasting, the FCC, and cameras in the courtroom. As a journalist, Chris received numerous awards for his writing and reporting.
Karen O’Donnell
Karen O’Donnell currently teaches classes in the West Valley for people with Parkinson’s disease. She was presented with the VoluntHero award in 2005 from the Phoenix Volunteer Center for her work within the Parkinson community. She became involved with Duet in 1994 as a support group member and has 10 years of experience as a support group facilitator. She serves as Chair of Duet’s caregiver services Advisory Committee and has been a Duet board member since 2006. Karen is a caregiver for her husband John, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1993. Originally from California, John and Karen have lived in the Phoenix metro area since 1989.
Joe Palmer
Joe Palmer has served on the Duet board for the past year. He and his wife Miriam help homebound individuals through Duet’s volunteer services. Joe has worked as a financial planner and advisor for the past 35 years. Joe and Miriam are the parents of six grown children and grandparents of six wonderful grandchildren. They have lived in the Valley since 1973.
Lee Peterson
Lee Peterson is the CEO of Sun Health Services, parent Corporation of Sun Health Partners and support organization to Sun Health Foundation in the West Valley. Lee earned his B.S. from Wisconsin State University, River Falls, and a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the current Chairman of Glendale Municipal Properties Corporation. Lee has held numerous professional and community positions including Chairman of the Western Maricopa Coalition (WESTMARC), and of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. He and his wife Kris, a longtime West Valley teacher, live in Glendale.
Cynthia Salk
Cynthia Salk has worked as a Human Services Specialist with the City of Scottsdale for the past 13 years. Prior to that, she worked for Maricopa County. She is committed to helping seniors remain independent. Cynthia has served as a member and vice-chair of the VICaP Coordinating Council for more than ten years. Devoted to our valley’s senior population, she is pleased to serve on the Duet board.