Chairwoman / Founder

Diane has been self-employed for the past 17 years as a real estate closing agent, servicing surrounding communities in the greater Chicago area for 12 years and the last 5 years in the Phoenix area.  While operating in Chicago, Diane had a staff of 25 closers that worked for and reported directly to her as well as closers in Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.  Diane also owned and operated a beauty salon in Chicago that staffed 13 licensed professionals that was featured in Shop Talk magazine, a well known beauty industry publication.  Following the salon business, Diane owned numerous cellular phone stores throughout the metropolitan Chicago area for which she was awarded numerous awards for outstanding sales and service from CellularOne.

CFO

Don has been serving as CFO for George Brazil Plumbing and Electrical, an Arizona based residential service and repair contractor, a position he has held for over 16 years.  The role encompasses supervision of and responsibilities for payroll, human resources, accounts payable, accounts receivable, as well as financial statements and managerial reporting.  Don also has operated an accounting and consulting practice that has been servicing small business owners, primarily licensed contractors, assisting owners with licensing, compliance, insurance, taxation and operational issues.  In addition, he has owned four restaurants in Arizona as well as a manufacturing company and a franchisor company.  His experience over the past 40 years has been related to financial management at the executive level as well as strategic management and planning.

Honorary Board Member

Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Margaret obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from St. Mary's College of Maryland, and her Masters in Business Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence, both from Arizona State University.  Margaret spent a summer abroad through Georgetown University Law Center studying at Florence's Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri. She interned at UPS and Motorola before diving into public law full time once she was admitted to the State Bar.  She has accumulated over 20 years of legal experience working for and in various state municipalities.  Currently, Margaret is working as needed as a judge pro tempore in a local municipal court.

Board Member

Kerry has been a prosecuting attorney for the City of Phoenix for over 20 years.  She has worked as a domestic violence and animal cruelty specialist.  As a team captain, Kerry leads, manages, and trains attorneys.  Kerry has worked on several high-profile cases, including the largest animal hoarding and neglect case in Phoenix’s history.  In 2019, Kerry received the Justice League Award for her trial advocacy.  In 2021, Kerry received the Spotlight Prosecutor Award for work she did to improve the court’s post-covid jury trial process, after successfully trying the first post-covid jury case in Maricopa County.  Kerry has worked in the Charging Bureau, Trial Bureau, and is currently working in the Appeals Bureau.

Facilities Director & Assistant

Kia has been working in property management for over 10 years, most recently as a property manager for Greystar Property Management, an international property management company, a position she has held for over 8 years. She is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of multi-million dollar residential communities, as well as managing teams of four to eight staff members, overseeing renovation projects, annual inspections, routine and emergency maintenance, vendor scheduling and coordination, lender inspections, property compliance, reporting, scheduling, financials, and resident relations. In addition, she has additional experience in construction management, overseeing independent contractors in a variety of trades, vendors, and clients covering four states, for multiple owners.  Kia also has over a decade of experience in the food service industry.

Board Member

Toni has been serving Maricopa County as a social worker for 13 years.  Earning her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s in Social work from Arizona State University, she continues to contribute to the advancement of social services as an Adjunct Lecturer at Arizona State University.  Her experience includes the Arizona Department of Child Safety, Maricopa County Office of Public Advocate, Phoenix Crisis Response, and ASU Child Welfare Education Program.  She continues her service to the community by working as a social worker to families experiencing the child welfare system, as a Mentor to at-risk youth, and as a volunteer with Goodyear Crisis Response.  

Guest Relations Director

Lisa has been in property management for over 25 years.  Her positions have included leasing agent, assistant property manager, property manager, leasing manager and property district manager, with progressive responsibilities with each position.  Her responsibilities and duties included mentoring and training, supervision of leasing staff, as well as completing and disseminating weekly and monthly management reports.  She also has experience overseeing a portfolio of properties, ranging from 6 properties to as many as 19 properties.  She interacted with Asset and Financial managers to review and develop budgets for properties as well as accounting for and monitoring property performance.

Board Member

Maria is a business development manager with Great American Title Agency, growing and nurturing relationships with her real estate partners and professionals. She spent fourteen years of her career in property and casualty insurance, beginning in 1999. Originally from Chicago, Maria relocated to Arizona in 1995, attending Arizona State University, majoring in Communication. She has recently returned to her alma mater to work toward another degree, focusing on meditation and mindfulness. She is a board member with the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals as well as a Tempe Leadership Council member and alumni of Tempe Leadership Class 26. She has been a board member for a number of other organizations, including the Hispanic Association of Real Estate Professionals, Exchange Club of Tempe, past President and charter member of the Phoenix El Puente Rotary Club and Emeritus Board member with the Sojourner Center, as well as team captain for the Salvation Army. Her extensive community involvement provides her an exceptional background and skills that will benefit the development and growth of the Hope Center for Women.

Board Member

Behee has over 20 years of experience in numerous high paced industries spanning from Maryland to Arizona, including over 13 years in banking, mortgage & finance, business consulting, as well as 11 years owning a number of her own companies, including a childcare business. Behee also has many years of volunteering with numerous local  community and school organizations in both Maryland and Arizona. Her experience running a childcare facility will assist BF Allen when a facility is acquired to insure it can serve the needs of women with children.