Duet: Partners In Health & Aging

Executive Director Ann Wheat has extensive experience collaborating with various agencies dedicated to serving seniors and individuals in need. Ann began her career with Duet in December 2015 as Director of Family Caregiver Services and was appointed Executive Director in July 2019. She served on Duet’s board from 1999 – 2005. Her career spans public and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on improving the quality of life for community members, including young people and adults with disabilities, childhood cancer patients and their families, vulnerable older adults, and refugees. She retired in 2014 from the City of Phoenix where she most recently served as Deputy Director. Ann’s work in the nonprofit sector is widely recognized and spans more than 35 years, including founding two nonprofits: Daring Adventures and AZ Lost Boys Center. Recognition for her work includes Arizona’s top volunteer award, the Hon Kachina; the Martin Luther King Junior Living the Dream Award; Arizona Cactus Pine Girl Scouts Women of Achievement Award; American Society for Public Administration Superior Service Award; National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award; and the Dr. Robert Theony Memorial Award for outstanding contributions to the field of cancer. In 2023, Ann was honored as an Outstanding Women in Business awardee by Phoenix Business Journal.

Nichole Barnes has served as the director of communications of Duet since 2014. She holds a bachelor’s of business administration with a major in marketing from Iowa State University. Prior to her service at Duet, Nichole worked in development and marketing roles at World Vision and UMOM New Day Centers since 1994.

Justin McBride joined Duet in 2021 as Program Manager to develop Duet’s Meaning & Hope Institute to create a national movement of healing and hope for family caregivers of individuals with dementia and other cognitive impairments. Together with his team, Justin has grown the Meaning & Hope Institute from an idea into an impactful virtual community for dementia family caregivers spanning Maricopa County, the Navajo Nation, 13 states, and Canada. He is an Arizona native and United States Marine Crops veteran who has earned a Bachelor of Science in Project Management, and a Master’s in Public Administration – Nonprofit Management and brings to Duet over a decade of program management, directing, and consulting experience in the nonprofit sector.

Julie Blake has served as the director of operations of Duet since 2013. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in mathematics from the University of Arizona. Julie started as a volunteer with Duet in 2001, helping to edit the Duet website. She was hired by Duet as an administrative assistant for Congregational Health and later as financial secretary.

Patricia Dominguez has served as the director of kinship care services of Duet since 1998. She holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Arizona State University. Patricia started at Duet as an intern in 1997 and has developed many of Duet’s kinship services from the ground up.

Janet Richards has served as the caregiver services coordinator since 2018 and is now Duet’s director of family caregiver services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and master’s in interdisciplinary studies from George Mason University. Prior to her service at Duet, Janet worked as an instructional designer through her company, JSR Design. She first became associated with Duet in 2017, when she started attending support groups for family caregivers.

Ricardo Samano joined the Duet team in 2005 and is now Duet’s Homebound Services Manager. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a Minor in Spanish from Arizona State University. Prior to Duet, Ricardo worked with Marriott International for 10 years, in addition to youth programs with the City of Phoenix and Boys and Girls Club.

Jennifer Kabrud joined the Duet team as the Director of Development in May 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with a Minor in Public Relations and Strategic Communications and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies, both from Arizona State University. Prior to joining Duet, Jennifer held development positions with numerous health and human service organizations throughout the Valley.